HISTOltIC    JIECORDS 

OF  THE 

frw 

FIRST   IRA  HARRIS   GUARD: 

IT3 

ORGANIZATION,  MARCHES,  RAIDS,   SCOUTS,  ENGAGEMENTS   AND  GENERAL 
SERVICES  ,  DURING  THI:  REBELLION  OF  1861  - 1865, 

WITH 

OBSERVATIONS  OF  THE  AUTHOR  BY  THE  WAY, 

GIVING 

Sketches  of  tl)c  Armies  of  tijc  JJotomnc  onb  of  tl)e 
51)enanboal). 

ALSO, 

INTERESTING  ACCOUNTS  OF  PRISON  LIFE 

X.  AND  OF  THE 

SECRET    SERVICE. 

Complete  Lists  of  its  Officers  and  Men. 

BY  REV.  LOUIS  N.  ftOtfDRTE, 

CHAPLAIN   OF   THE   REGIMENT. 

ILLUSTRATED  WITH  STEEL  PORTRAITS  AXD  WOOD  CCTS. 
SECOND   EDITION.. 

ALBANY,  N.  Y!: 

S.  R.  GRAY,  38  STATE  STREET. 
1865. 


Entered  According  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  Year  1865,  by 

Louis  N.  BOUDRTE, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Northern  District  of  New  York. 


J.    KUN8ELL,  PRINTER. 


TO    THE  BRAVED   BOYS 
OF  THE   OLD   FIFTH, 
who 
hate 
so  often  displayed  unsurpassed 

Patriotism,  Fortitude 

and   Valor  in  the 

trying  'vicissitudes  of     , 
Military  Life;  and  who, 
on  so  many  bloody  Fields 

of  Battle,  have  heroically  up 

borne  the  Starry  Banner,  and  hare 

vindicated  #s    authority  in    the  pres 

ence  of  its  enemies,   are  these 

His-  tone  Records  of  their 

NO-  BLE    DEEDS 

DEDICATED  by  their 
CHAPLAIN. 


M157154 


HEAP  QUARTERS,  Fifth  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  1 

Near  Staunton,  Va.,  June  oth,  1865.  /    • 
REV.  Louis  N.  BOUDRYE, 

Chaplain,  Fifth  N.  Y.  Cavalry, 

Dear  Sir:  We,  the  officers  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry, 
desirous  to  possess  true  and  full  Historic  Records  of  the  Regiment, 
since  its  organization,  do  respectfully  request  you  to  prepare  the 
same  for  publication  in  such  form,  that  ourselves  and  the  men  of 
this  Command  may  be  able  to  procure  them. 

Pledging  you  our  assistance  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  diffi 
cult  labor,  we  remain 

Respectfully  Yours, 

(Signed).— A.  II.  WHITE,  Col.;  T.  A.  BOICE,  Lt.  Col.  ;  E.  J.  BAR 
KER,  Major;  H.  A.  D.  MERRITT,  Major;  0.  Wr.  ARMSTRONG,  Sur 
geon,  and  others. 

CAMP  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  1 
Near  Staunton,  Va.,  June  Gth,  18G5.  / 
Col.  A,  II.  WHITE,  Lt.  Col.  T.  A..  BOICE,  and  others, 

Dear  Sirs:  I  cheerfully  undertake  the  "difficult  labor,"  which 
you  request  me  to  perform  for  several  reasons,  viz:  first,  because 
you  request  it.  Second,  because  I  believe  it  to  be  the  duty  of 
every  regiment  to  prepare  a  correct  history  of  its  services  in  this 
war,  for  future  reference.  Third,  because  my  services  as  chaplain 
of  the  regiment,  for  nearly  three  years  of  its  active  campaigning, 
have  afforded  me  an  ample  opportunity  to  know  its  character  and 
history.  A  diary  of  all  the  remarkable  events  of  that  period, 
written  during  the  lull  of  battle; — in  the  halt  of  the  march;  — 
through  the  respite  of  hospital  labor;  —  in  the  loneliness  of  the 
prison  (where  I  was  confined  three  months),  and  during  the  quiet 
ness  of  the  camp, —  will  be  invaluable  in  this  enterprise.  I  pledge 
myself  to  search  out  diligently,  and  to  state  faithfully,  the  facts  of 
our  eventful  history.  Hoping  that  among  these  records  in  future 
days,  we  may  spend  many  happy  and  profitable  hours  ,  living 
over  again  some  of  the  glorious  experiences  of  our  military  life, 
I  remain,  Very  Respectfully  Yours, 

Louis  N.  BOUDRYE, 
Chaplain,  Fifth  N.  Y.  Cavalry 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


STEEL  PORTRAITS. 

PAGES. 
I.  Chaplain  Louis  N.  Boudrye, Frontispiece. 

II.  Colonel  0.  DeForeet, 29 

III.  Colonel  John  Hammond,  75 

IV.  Colonel  A.  H.  White 117 

V.  Lieutenant  Colonel  T.  A.  Boice, 185 

VI.  Surgeon  L.  P.  Woods, 233 

WOOD  CUTS. 

I.  Battle  of  Brandy  Station, 81 

II.  Burial  of  Sergeant  S.  W.  Sortore, 132 

III.  Our  Chapel  Tent, 247 

IV.  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  Va., 257 

V.  Interior  View  of  Libby  Prison, 257 

VI.  Our  Scout,  Approaching  Hagerstown,  Md., 281 


LIST   OF   TABLES. 


I.  Officers'  at  Time  of  Muster  Out 202 

II.   Commandants  of  the  Regiment,  204 

III.  Non-Commissioned  Staff, 204 

IV.  Strength  of  Command  at  Various  Dates, 205 

V.  Full  Statistics 206 

VI.  Engagements  and  their  Casualties, 212 

VII.   Men  Killed  in  Action, 216 

VIII.   Men  Mortally  Wounded  in  Action, 218 

IX.  Men  Discharged  by  Reason  of  Wounds, 219 

X.  lletired  Officers 221 

XI. -Men  who  Died  in  Rebel  Prisons, 27° 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

Our  Cavalry  Deficient  at  Bull  Run. —  This  Arm  Recruited.—  Organ 
ization  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry. —  Hon.  Ira  Harris 
lends  his  Name  and  Influence. —  Early  History  of  Regiment. — 
On  Staten  Island,  New  York. —  Flag  Presentation. —  Speech  of 
Senator  Harris. —  Regiment  Leaves  the  State. —  In  Baltimore. — 
In  Annapolis.— At  Camp  Harris.— July  Ibth  to  Dec.  Slst, 
1861, 17 

CHAPTER  II. 

Discipline  and  Drill.  —  First  Bivouac.  —  At  Harper's  Ferry.  —  Win 
chester. —  Its  Appearance  then. — First  Capture  made  by  the 
Regiment.  —Col.  Turner  Ashby  (Rebel)  in  the  Valley.  —Fight 
with  him  at  Harrisonburg.  —  Gallant  Conduct  of  the  Fifth.— 
First  Casualties.  —  Cavalry  towing  Infantry  across  a  River  by 
hanging  on  the  Horses'  Tails. — Battle  of  Front  Royal. — Thfl 
Flanker  Stonewall  Jackson.  —  The  Regiment  Engaged. — A 
Portion  of  it  cut  off.  — Great  Daring.  —  Belle  Boyd,  the  female 
Rebel  Spy.  —  Letter  of  Charles  H.  Greeuleaf. — How  Gen. 
Banks  saved  his  army. — Result  of  Retreat. — Jan.  to  May  26M, 
1862,  23 

CHAPTER  in. 

Rebel  Army  Crossing  South  of  Blue  Ridge. —  Successful  Advance 
on  Martinsburg. —  Services  and  Sufferings  of  the  Cavalry. — 


x  CONTENTS. 

Cavalry  Battle  of  Orange  Court  House. — Fifth  New  York  Boys. — 
Terrible  Dealers  in  Hardware — Reconnoissance  to  Louisa 
Court  House. —  Gen.  Stuart's  Adjutant  General  and  Important 
Dispatches  from  Gen.  Lee  Captured. —  Reconnoissance  through 
Snicker's  Gap  and  to  Berryville. —  Capture  of  a  Rebel  Camp, 
one  Stand  of  Colors  and  much  Spoil. —  Charge  on  a  Sutler's 
Shanty. —  Sword  Presented  to  Gen.  J.  P.  Hatch. —  Interesting 
Correspondence. —  May  31s/  to  December  31s/,  18G2, ._  35 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Mosby,  the  Guerrilla. —  His  men. —  Picketing  against  him  at  Chan- 
tilly. — Building  Winter  Quarters  at  Germantown. — Descrip 
tion.  —  Mosby  at  Fairfax  Court  House.  — Fight  at  Chantilly.  — 
At  Warrenton  Junction. — Congratulatory  Order  of  Command 
ing  General. — Fight  at  Greenwich.  —  Capture  of  a  Howitzer. 
—  Gallant  Conduct  of  Lieut.  Barker. —  Jan.  1st  to  June  }4lh, 
1863, 46 

CHAPTER  V. 

Gen.  Lee  Invades  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania. — Breaking  Camp 
at  Fairfax  Court  House. —  Fidelity  of.  the  Horse. —  March  over 
Bull  Run  Battle  Field. —  Reorganization  of  the  Cavalry  Corps. — 
Kilpatrick  in  Command  of  the  Third  Division. —  Cavalry  Battle 
of  Hanover,  Pennsylvania. —  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  Third  Day. — 
Attack  on  Rebel  Train  in  Monterey  Pass. —  Battle  of  Hagers- 
town. —  Battle  of  Boonsboro'. —  Attack  on  Rear  Guard  of  Rebel 
Army  at  Falling  Waters. —  The  Invaders  Expelled  from  Free 
Soil.  June  19U  to  July  14/7t,  1863, 61 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Lee's  Invasion,  a  great  Failure. —  He  is  not  Pursued  very  Vigor 
ously. —  Reasons  Why. —  We  Recross  the  Potomac. —  The  Gun- 
Boat  Expedition. —  Battle  of  Culpepper  Court  House. —  Lee 
flanks  Meade. —  We  Retreat  from  the  Robertson  and  Rapidan 
Rivers. —  Kilpatrick  Surrrounded  at  Brandy  Station. —  His 
Brilliant  Charge.— Battle  of  Buckland  Mills.— The  Armies 


CONTENTS.  xi 

Swing  like  Pendulums. —  Skirmish  at  Stevensburg. —  Several 
Days'  Fighting  at  Raccoon  Ford. — Change  is  the  Soldier's  Life. — 
Excitement  about  ReSnlisting  as  Veteran  Volunteers.  — Build 
ing  Winter  Quarters. —  July  loth  to  December  Blst,  1863,..  72 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Life  in  Winter  Quarters. —  Its  Duties  and  Pastimes. —  Its  Interest 
ing  Scenes. —  Dangerous  Picketing  between  the  Rappahannock 
and  the  Rapidan. —  Frequent  Attacks  by  Guerrillas. —  Kilpat- 
rick's  Second  Raid  to  Richmond. —  Col.  Dahlgren's  Part  of  the 
Work. —  Full  Account  by  Lieut.  Merritt,  who  accompanied 
Dahlgren. —  Object  of  the  Raid. —  General  Plan. —  Dahlgren'g 
Command. —  Successful  Capture  of  Rebel  Pickets  on  the  Rapi 
dan. —  Honor  to  Lieut.  Merritt's  Command. —  Capture  of  a  Rebel 
Court  Martial. —  Conduct  of  Prisoners. —  The  Faithless  Negro 
Guide. —  He  is  Hung. —  Property  of  Mr.  Seddon,  Rebel 
Secretary  of  War. —  His  Negroes. —  Their  Depredations. —  Our 
Soldiejs  falsely  Accused  of  Pillaging. —  Henry  A.  Wise  wisely 
Skedaddles. —  Within  a  few  Miles  of  Richmond. —  Cooperation 
•with  Kilpatrick  Impossible. —  Preparation  to  Attack  Richmond. 
—  Nature  of  the  Fight. —  Withdrawal. —  Casualties. —  Terrible 
Night's  March. —  Meet  a  Rebel  Ambulance  Train. —  Crossing 
the  Pamunkey. —  The  Mattapony. —  Marching  and  Fighting. — 
The  Ambuscade, —  Dahlgren  Killed. —  Road  Barricaded. —  In 
Straits. —  Ammunition  Exhausted. —  Preparation  to  Disperse. — 
The  Party  Broken  up. —  The  Cabin  in  the  Woods. —  The  Surren 
der. —  A  Baptist  Preacher. —  The  Parson's  Robbery  and  Apolo 
gy. —  Dahlgren's  Remains. —  Arrival  at  Libby  Prison. —  Casual 
ties  of  the  Fifth  New  York. —  Synopsis  of  Kilpatrick's  March. — 
The  Terrible  Tornado.—  January  1st  to  May  2d,  1864 90 

CHAPTER  VIII 

Army  of  the  Potomac.  —  Good  Condition.  —  First  Steps  of  the 
Great  Campaign  under  Gen.  Grant.  — The  Fifth  New  York  opena 
the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness  at  Parker's  Store.— Detailed  at  Army 
Headquarters.  —  Scenes  at  the  Hospital.  —  Lines  of  Battle.  — • 
Second  Day.  —  Lee  breaks  our  Lines  twice. — Is  Repulsed.  — 


xii  CONTENTS. 

Col.  Hammond  Ordered  to  Germnnia  Ford.  — Is  Placed  in  Com 
mand  of  Provisional  Brigade  of  Cavalry. — Brings,  up  Rear  on 
First  Left  Flank  Movement.  —  Skirmishes  on  the  Ny  and  Po 
Rivers — Affair  at  the  Ma;  tapony.  — Sergeant  Sortore  Killed. — 
His  Burial.  —  Battle  of  Mil  ford  Station.  —  A  Stratagem  at  Little 
River.  —  Vast  Forests  of  Virginia.  —  Battle  of  Ashland  Station 
—  Dark,  Muddy  March  along  the  Pamunkey — Tedious  March  in 
Rear  of  a  Supply  Train.  — Men  Sleep  on  their  Horses.  — At 
Charles  City  C.  H.  —  Fight  at  White  Oak  Swamps.  —  May  3J 
to  June  IQth,  1864,....: 120 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Crossing  the  James  River. —  Pleasant  Scene. —  The  Wilson  Raid. — 
First  Day. —  Battle  of  Nottoway  Court  House. —  The  Danville 
Railroad. —  What  -we  Destroyed. —  The  Contrabands. —  Battle 
of  Reams  Station. —  The  Swift  Retreat. —  Awful  Scenes.—  The 
Author's  Personal  Adventures. —  Is  Dismounted  in  the  Woods. — 
Travels  by  Night  and  Rests  by  Day. —  Narrow  Escapes. —  Assist 
ed  by  Negroes. —  Pieaches  our  Lines  Safely. —  Casualties  of  the 
Raid. —  The  Division  Ships  for.  Geisboro'  Point,  D.  C. —  June 
17 th  to  August  9th,  1804,  143 

CHAPTER  X. 

To  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  —  Exciting  Scene  in  Snicker's  Gap. — 
Battle  of  Summit  Point. — Battle  of  Kearneysville  Station. — 
Crossing  into  Maryland. —  Old  John  Brown  air  in  Charlestown. — 
Skirmishes  near  the  Opequan.  —  Battle  of  Winchester.  —  Drive 
the  Enemy  through  Front  Royal.  —  Up  Luray  Valley.  —  Raid 
to  Staunton  and  Waynesboro'. — Cavalry  Fight  at  Tom's  Brook. — 
Battle  of  Cedar  Creek. —  Sheridan's  Ride.  —  Upparalleled  Cap 
tures  by  the  Regiment.  — Gen.  Custer's  Congratulatory  Order.  — 
Reconnaissance  to  Rood's  Hill. —  Spirited  Engagement  near  Mt. 
Jackson. — Regiment  Detailed  Escort  of  General  Sheridan.— 
The  Fruit  of  Sheridan's  Work  in  the  Valley. — August  \2(h  to 
December  31s/,  1864, 162 


CONTEXTS.  xiii 


CHAPTER  XL 

General  Sheridan's  Last  Raid.— Up  the  Valley  —  Battle  of 
Waynesboro'. —  Many  Prisoners. — In  Charge  of  the  Regi 
ment. —  Rosser  Annoys  Rear  of  Column.  —  Battle  of  Rood's 
Hill.  —  Rosser  Defeated. — Fall  of  Richmond.  —  Lee  Surren 
ders. —  Suburbs  of  Winchester. — Rebel  Soldiers  Anxious  to 
be  Paroled.  —  Expedition  to  Staunton. — Preparation  to  Muster 
out  the  Regiment.  —  Camp  Illumination. — Last  Order  of  Col. 
White. —  Journey  to  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor.— The  Fifth 
New  Yo.rk  Cavalry  is  No  More.  —  January  1st  to  July  26th, 
1865,  190 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Regimental  Items.  —  Tables  :  Officers  at  Time  of  Muster  Out. — 
Commanding  Officers. — Non-commissioned  Staff. — Exhibit  of 
Strength  on  Monthly  Returns.  — Full  Statistics. — Former  Oc 
cupations  of  our  Men.  —  Their  Places  of  Birth.  —  Marches  of 
the  Regiment.  —  Counties  Traversed. — Escort  Duty.  —  Gen 
erals  under  whom  we  Served.  —  Burial  of  Our  Dead.  —  Tables: 
Engagements  and  their  Casualties.  —  Men  Killed  in  Action. — 
Mortally  Wounded. — Discharged  by  Reason  of  Wounds. — List 
of  Retired  Officers  200 

CHAPTER  Xm. 

Mementos  to  Officers. —  Col.  0.  DeForest. —  Col.  John  Hammond. 
—Surgeon  Lucius  P.  WToods. —  Major  A.  H.  Krom. —  Major  E. 
J.  Barker.— Capt.  L.  L.  O'Connor, 224 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Influence  of  Campaigning  on  our  Men. —  Who  can  best  Resist  the 
Evils. —  Means  Employed. —  The  Mail  Bag. —  The  Spelling 
School.— Literary  Classes. —  Our  Chapel  Tents. —  Our  Tempe 
rance  Club. —  Meetings  for  Religious  Worship. —  The  Effect  on 
our  Discipline, 242 

2 


xiv  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Life  in  Southern  Prisons.  —  Personal  Experience  of  the  Author.  — 
Capture. — Gen.  Stuart. — Incidents  of  March  to  Staunton,  Va., 
from  Pennsylvania. —  Libby  Prison,  Richmond.  —  Cruelties  of 
Managers.  —  State  of  Rooms.  — Vermin.  —  Rations.  — The  Soup. 

—  Water. — Richmond  Papers. — "Skirmishing."  —  Bone  Cut 
ting. —  The  Debating  Club. —  "Libby  Lice-I-see-'em,"  (Lyceum). 

—  The  Weekly  Libby  Chronicle.  —  Literary  Classes.  —  Religious 
Services. — The  Author  Preaches  to  our  Prisoners  in  Pember- 
ton  Castle.  —  Wretched    Condition    of  our   Men.  —  Release. — 
What   he    Brought   with   him.  —  Diary  of  Sufferings   at  Salis 
bury,  N.  C   —Untold   Wretchedness   at    Andersonville,   Ga. — 
List  of  Men  who  Died  in  Rebel  Prisons, 251 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Our  Scout. —  With  Gen.  Stahel.  —  Guides  Cavalry  Corps  from  Fair 
fax  C.  H.  to  Frederick  City,  Md.,  June,  1863. —  Ordered  to  Watch 
Movements  of  Rebel  Army,  Marching  on  its  Grand  Invasion  of 
Pennsylvania.  —  In  Disguise  he  Visits  Rebel  Gen.  Stuart. — 
Captures  Rebel  Army  Mail,  with  Important  Dispatches,  at 
Hagerstown,  Md. — Carries  Dispatches  from  Gen.  Grant  to 
President  Lincoln,  during  Battle  of  the  Wilderness.  —  Among 
the  Rebels  near  Weldon  &  Petersburg  R.R.  —  Hard  Tramp 
through  Woods  and  Swamps. — The  Colored  Guide. — Gladly 
Reaches  our  Lines  Again, 276 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Company  Registers.  —  Organizations. —  Officers.  —  Interesting  In 
cidents  in  Personal  Adventures  of  the  men, 287 

CHAPTER  XVHL 

Complete  Roster  of  the  Regiment ;  each  company  given  alpha 
betically,  310 


CONTENTS.  xv 

APPENDIX. 

Selections  from  the  Files  of  the  Libby  Chronicle.  — Prospectus.— 
Kansas  Brigade's  Version  of  John  Brown. — South  Window, 
No.  1.  —  Conundrums.  —  Castle  Thunder,  in  Three  Parts,  a 
Poem.  —  Facts  and  Fun. — News  of  Libbj.  —  South  Window, 
No.  2.  —  The  Libbyad,  a  Poem.  —  Petition  to  Governor  Bradford 
of  Maryland.  —  Who  is  Responsible  for  Non-Exchange  of  Pris 
oners. —  South  Window,  No.  3.  —  The  Soldier  and  the  Gentle 
man. —  The  Irruption,  a  Poem, 335 


CHAPTER  L 

Our  Cavalry  Deficient  at  Bull  Run.— This  Arm  Recruited.—  Organ 
ization  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry. —  Hon.  Ira  Harris 
lends  his  Name  and  Influence. —  Early  History  of  Regiment. — 
On  Staten  Island,  New  York. — Flag  Presentation. —  Speech  of 
Senator  Harris. —  Regiment  Leaves  the  State. —  In  Baltimore. — 
In  Annapolis.— At  Camp  Harris.—  July  26th  to  Dec.  31st,  1861. 

The  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  clearly  demonstrated  the 
importance  of  the  cavalry  arm  of  the  service,  and  that  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  including  his  notorious  Black  Horse,  was 
far  superior  to  ours.  Fully  aware  of  our  deficiency  the 
authorities  went  directly  to  work  to  reenforce  this  weak  arm 
and  to  invigorate  it  with  new  life  and  discipline.  Recruit 
ing  officers  at  once  appeared  in  every  section  of  the  loyal 
north,  whose  calls  were  made  for  cavalrymen,  who  would 
be  expected  to  take  the  field  against  the  proud  chivalry, 
whose  success,  thus  far,  had  made  them  more  defiant  and 
confident  than  before. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  July,  1861,  the  secretary  of  war 
authorized  Col.  Othniel  De  Forest,  of  New  York  city,  to 
raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry  for  the  field  service.  With 
earnest  zeal  the  colonel  began  the  work  assigned  him,  and 
by  the  last  of  September  he  had  gathered  on  Staten 
Island,  New  York,  the  nucleus  of  a  fine  cavalry  brigade. 
From  this  assemblage  of  recruits  Col.  De  Forest  organized 


18  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  known  as  the  First  Ira  Har 
ris  Guard,  in  honor  of  Senator  Ira  Harris,  of  Albany, 
under  whose  patronage  the  organization  was  commenced 
and  completed.  New  York  City  had  contributed  liberally 
of  men,  though  whole  companies  and  parts  of  companies 
were  raised  in  Essex,  Wyoming,  Allegany,  Tioga  and 
Orange  counties.  A  few  men  were  also  obtained  from  the 
states  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and  New  Jersey.  No 
bounties  were  theu  paid  to  recruits,  and  a  bounty  of  only 
one  hundred  dollars  was  promised  to  be  paid  by  the  United 
States,  at  the  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

On  the  first  of  October,  on  Staten  Island,  New  York,  the 
field  and  staff  of  the  regiment  were  mustered  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States  for  three  years,  by  Capt.  L.  S.  Lamed, 
of  the  United  States  army.  The  muster  took  effect  from 
that  date.  The  regiment  was  now  quartered  in  common,  or 
A  tents,  furnished  by  the  United  States,  and  the  place 
where  the  boys  received  their  first  lessons  in  discipline  and 
drill  was  called  Camp  Scott,  after  the  old  veteran,  who,  at 
that  time,  was  closing  his  active  military  labors.  The  first 
and  second  battalions  received  their  horses  during  the  month 
of  October,  and  began  to  be  instructed  in  mounted  drill. 

October  31s£.  The  regiment  was  inspected  for  the  first 
time  by  Lt.  Col.  D.  B.  Sackett,  of  the  United  States  army. 
The  last  company  had  now  been  mustered  in,  and  the  com 
mand  stood  with  a  strength  of  1,064,  besides  the  officers. 
On  this  day  of  inspection  the  regiment  was  also  mustered 
in  for  pay,  preparatory  to  receiving  its  first  remuneration 
from  the  government,  which  came  on  the  sixth  of  Novem 
ber.  At  that  time  the  government  had  not  yet  learned  to 
deal  in  paper  money,  and  the  boys  received  their  pay 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  19 

wholly  in  gold  and  silver,  though  it  was  the  last  time  they 
were  cumbered  with  the  precious  metals. 

Monday,  November  \\th,  was  a  memorable  day  for  the  regi 
ment,  which  was  I  hen  presented  with  two  beautiful  flags, 
One  by  the  common  council  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
the  other  from  the  hands  of  Misses  Kate  Harris  and  Mary 
F.  Blake.  A  stand  had  been  erected  in  the  centre  of  the 
plain,  at  Camp  Scott,  in  front  of  which,  at  the  appointed 
time,  the  regiment  was  formed  into  a  hollow  square,  the 
officers,  some  thirty  in  number,  in  full  dress  uniform, 
advancing  to  the  front,  Col.  De  Forest  occupying  the  centre 
of  the  group. 

At  the  unfurling  of  the  colors,  Senator  Harris,  who  was 
present,  arose  on  the  stand,  and  spoke  as  follows : 

Col.  De  Forest,  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Ira  Harris 
Guard: — I  am  here  to-day  to  perform  a  most  pleasing 
service.  It  is  one  of  the  proudest  moments  of  my  life. 
To-morrow,1  many  of  you  will  depart  for  the  seat  of  war, 
there  to  take  part,  actively  and  successfully,  I  trust,  in  the 
great  encounter  in  which  our  country  is  now  engaged  with 
treason  and  rebellion.  The  rest  of  you  will  soon  follow. 
Before  you  go,  I  desire  to  place  in  your  hands  and  commit 
to  your  keeping  a  most  sacred  deposit  —  one  which  I  am  sure 
you  will  be  ready  to  defend  with  your  hearts'  best  blood. 
Look  upon  that  standard.  Behold  these  stars  and  stripes. 
As  the  star  of  Bethlehem  has  been,  for  ages,  the  great 
centre  of  religious  hope,  so  these  stars  and  stripes  are  the 
emblem  of  all  we  hold  dear  as  Americans.  Upon  these  the 
patriot  rests  his  best  hopes.  They  are  the  great  beacon- 


xThe  regiment  did  not  go  as  was  expected. 


20  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

light  of  oppressed  humanity  throughout  the  world.  And 
yet  these  stars  and  stripes — so  precious  in  the  eyes  of  every 
true  American  —  and  now  tenfold  more  precious  than  ever 
before  —  were,  a  little  while  ago,  at  Fort  Suniter — in  one 
of  the  states  represented  by  these  stars,  basely,  ignoinini- 
ously  shot  down.  This  outrage  was  committed,  not  by  a 
foreign  foe — this  could  have  been  endured  —  but  by  the 
coward  hands  of  traitors.  This  was  too  much  to  bear.  At 
their  country's  call,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  patriotic 
men  have  gone  forth  to  revenge  the  insult  and  suppress  this 
most  atrocious  rebellion  —  the  most  atrocious  that  the  world 
ever  saw.  Hundreds  of  thousands  more  are  ready  to  go 
whenever  their  country  needs  them.  Neither  men  uor 
money  shall  ever  be  wanting  until  this  great  rebellion  is 
utterly  extinguished.  This  is  the  great  and  noble  erra-nd 
upon  which  you  go.  I  think  I  know  the  men  to  whom  I 
speak.  They  are  brave  men  —  they  are  patriotic  men.  I 
trust  and  believe  there  is  not  one  of  you  who  would  not 
pour  out  his  blood  like  water,  to  save  his  country  from 
destruction  and  dishonor.  How  gladly  would  I  go  with 
you.  Did  my  circumstances  permit,  I  would  march  with 
you  to-morrow,  and  share  with  you  the  perils  and  the  glory 
of  the  patriot  soldier.  But  though  I  cannot  go,  I  rejoice 
that  my  name  and  honor  are  to  go  with  you.  I  know  they 
will  be  safe  in  your  hands.  Col.  De  Forest,  as  the  represent 
ative  and  leader  of  this  noble  band  of  men,  I  commit  this 
standard  to  your  hands.  Keep  it  —  stand  by  it — defend  it, 
even  with  your  life.  Let  it  be  rent  and  marred  in  the 
intensity  of  the  conflict  to  which  you  go,  but  let  it  never  be 
dishonored  by  the  polluting  touch  of  a  traitor's  hand.  And 
I  ask  you — both  you  and  the  men  of  your  command — now 


FIFTH  NEW  JCORK  CAVALRY.  21 

and  here,  in  the  presence  of  this  large  assemblage,  to  record 
your  vow,  that,  God  helping  you,  this  banner  shall  not  pass 
from  your  hands  until  it  shall  wave  in  graceful  triumph 
over  the  very  grave  of  treason.  And, -colonel,  I  have  yet 
another  equally  delightful  office  to  perform.  The  duty  has 
been  assigned  me  of  presenting  to  you  this  other  flag.  It 
comes  from  delicate  hands.  It  is  the  united  gift  of  love 
and  patriotism.  Take  it  with  you,  and,  when  far  away 
upon  the  tented  field,  let  it  be  to  you  for  a  memorial  of  the 
loved  ones  you  leave  behind  you.  And  when  you  come  to 
meet  the  foe  in  battle,  let  it,  with  talismanic  power,  nerve 
your  arm  to  strike  heavier,  deadlier  blows  in  your  country's 
cause.  And  now,  colonel,  officers  and  men,  farewell !  I 
shall  watch  your  movements  with  the  intensest  interest. 
Whatever  my  humble  efforts  can  accomplish  for  your  wel 
fare  or  comfort  shall  be  done.  But  the  life  of  a  soldier  is 
no  holiday  life.  I  know  you  will  endure  hardships  as  good 
soldiers  —  that  you  will  brave  even  death  itself  in  a  cause 
so  glorious.  Some  of  you  will  fall  in  battle.  Oh,  it  is  a 
glorious  death  thus  to  die.  Some  of  you — most  of  you,  I 
hope  —  will  live  to  return.  But  come  not  back,  I  charge 
you,  until  you  come  covered  all  over  with  glory,  to  receive 
the  plaudits  of  a  grateful  country. 

To  this  profoundly  impressive  address,  which  was  fre 
quently  interrupted  by  cheers  from  the  whole  regiment, 
Col.  De  Forest  made  a  very  touching  and  appropriate  response. 
This  was  followed  by  an  outburst  of  enthusiastic  cheering. 

November  \Sth.  The  regiment  took  its  departure  from 
the  state,  and  after  a  pleasant  journey  by  rail  road  without 
accidents,  reached  Baltimore  on  the  19th.  During  their 
stay  in  the  Monumental  city  the  3d  battalion  drew  horses 


22  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

and  equipments,  and  on  the  25th  the  regiment  made  its 
first  march,  from  Baltimore  to  Annapolis.  During  their 
stay  here  most  of  the  men  were  quartered  in  St.  Mary's 
College  and  yard.  .On  the  28th  they  left  this  capital  and 
pitched  their  tents  about  three  miles  from  the  city,  and 
named  the  place  Camp  Harris. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Discipline  and  Drill.  —  First  Bivouac.  —  At  Harper's  Ferry.  —  Win 
chester. —  Its  Appearance  then. — First  Capture  made  by  the 
Regiment.  — Col.  Turner  Ashby  (Rebel)  in  the  Valley.  — Fight 
with  him  at  Harrisonburg.  —  Gallant  Conduct  of  the  Fifth. — 
First  Casualties.  —  Cavalry  towing  Infantry  across  a  River  by 
hanging  on  the  Horses'  Tails. — Battle  of  Front  Royal. — The 
Flanker  Stonewall  Jackson.  —  The  Regiment  Engaged. — A 
Portion  of  it  cut  off.  — Great  Daring.  — Belle  Boyd,  the  female 
Rebel  Spy.  —  Letter  of  Charles  II.  Greenleaf. — How  Gen. 
Banks  saved  his  army. — Result  of  Retreat. — Jan.  to  May  26th,  1862. 

The  winter  at  Camp  Harris  was  not  spent  in  vain. 
Under  the  instructions  of  a  thorough  disciplinarian,  and  of 
excellent  drill  masters,  the  regiment  had  become  versed  in 
the  tactics  of  war.  Horses  as  well  as  men  had  learned  the 
"  certain  sounds"  of  the  bugle,  and  were  masters  of  evolu 
tions  and  dispositions  required  of  them.  Thus  the  founda 
tion  of  a  career  destined  to  be  important  and  glorious  was 
laid,  and  the  command  was  only  waiting  for  the  opportunity 
of  practicing  in  the  field  what  it  had  learned  in  camp,  and 
of  achieving  what  had  been  fondly  hoped  by  its  friends.  That 
time  soon  came.  The  last  day  of  March,  1862,  found  them 
breaking  up  their  winter  quarters  and  preparing  for  the 
realities  of  field  service.  On  that  day  the  1st  and  2d 
battalions  marched  to  Annapolis  Junction,  and  entered  into 
their  first  bivouac.  The  first  April  they  were  at  the  Relay 


24  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

House,  and  on  the  2d  at  Harper's  Ferry.  Until  the  ninth 
April  the  battalions  were  separated  from  each  other,  and  sent 
from  one  post  to  the  other  as  though  the  authorities  did  not 
know  where  they  were  really  needed.  They  alternated 
between  Ellicott  Mills,  Washington  and  Harper's  Ferry,  until 
at  length  the  whole  regiment  bivouacked  together  amid  the 
rough  scenes  of  the  John  Brown  raid.  On  the  10th  Cos. 
F  and  L  escorted  Maj.  General  Rosecrans  to  Winchester, 
Woodstock,  Paris,  and  returned  again  to  Harper's  Ferry. 

During  aheavy  rain,  which  made  the  roads  almost  impassa 
ble,  and  the  weather  uncomfortable,  the  regiment  marched, 
on  the  20th  April,  to  Winchester.  This  was  then  a  beautiful 
town.  "Grim  visaged  war,"  with  her  fire  and  sword,  had 
not  yet  desolated  the  fine  public  buildings,  nor  destroyed 
the  beautiful  shrubbery  and  foliage  of  the  streets.  But 
Winchester  was  then  as  rebellious  and  aristocratic  as  it  was 
beautiful.  Thoroughly  loyal  Union  families  were  there, 
but  they  were  like  angel's  visits,  "few  and  far  between." 
It  is  true  it  cost  something  to  be  loyal  there,  but  the  virtue 
of  loyalty  is  a  possession  well  worthy  its  expense. 

The  regiment  remained  not  long  to  luxuriate  in  this 
pleasant  locality,  but  moved  on  the  22d  to  Strasburg,  where 
it  remained  two  days,  moving  to  Woodstock  on  the  24th. 
On  the  26th  the  men  received  their  pay  from  the  govern 
ment,  and  were  prepared  to  march  to  New  Market  the  next 
day.  On  the  29th,  while  on  a  scout,  they  captured  four 
prisoners.  This  was  the  first  capture  the  regiment  ever 
made,  and,  at  that  time,  it  was  considered  a  big  thing. 

May  2d.  Co  A  made  a  reconnoissance  from  Harrisonburg 
toward  Port  Republic,  running  into  General  Jackson's  camp. 
In  the  skirmish  and  flight  that  followed,  they  had  one  man 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  25 

captured,  the  first  man  ever  lost  from  the  regiment  in  an 
engagement. 

M<iy  3<7.  The  regiment  advanced  to  Harrisonburg,  and 
reported  to  Brig.  Gen.  John  P.  Hatch,  commanding  cavalry 
in  the  valley.  On  the  5th  the  whole  force  fell  back  to  New 
Market  and  bivouacked. 

J/c/y  oth.  Col.  Turner  Ashby,  a  young  dashing  Rebel 
officer,  with  a  force  of  picked  cavalry,  had  been  playing  mis 
chief  with  our  outposts  for  several  weeks.  His  exploits  had 
been  so  daring,  quick,  and  so  generally  successful,  that  he 
had  made  himself  a  great  name,  and  become  a  terror  to  our 
forces.  During  the  day  it  was  reported  that  Ashby  with 
his  men  was  coming  down  the  pike  from  Harrisonburg.  In 
the  afternoon  a  detachment  of  the  Fifth  New  York  was  sent 
out  to  check  any  advance  that  might  be  made.  Within 
about  five  miles  of  Harrisonburg,  they  encountered  the  re 
doubtable  Ashby.  Our  men  all  eager  for  a  fight,  fell  like  a 
whirlwind  upon  the  enemy,  and  using  their  sab  res  with  terrible 
effect,  soon  scattered  and  turned  them  back  in  confusion. 
And  now  commenced  a  scrambling  race.  Clouds  of  dust  arose 
from  the  road,  which  almost  entirely  enveloped  both  the 
pursued  and  the  pursuers.  Occasionally  the  Rebels  rallied, 
but  were  swept  away  again,  and  finally  chased  into  the  sub 
urbs  of  the  town,  badly  defeated.  The  conflict  cost  them 
3  men  killed,  5  wounded  and  7  prisoners,  besides  several 
good  horses  captured.  On  our  side  we  lost  Asahel  A.  Spencer,. 
Co.  E,  killed,  who  was  the  first  victim  of  the  regiment, 
offered  to  the  God  of  battles.  William  Mills,  Co.  I,  was 
wounded.  Sergeant  Wm.  H.  Whitcomb,  Co.  M,  was  cap 
tured,  but  escaped  through  dint  of  Yankee  ingenuity.  "  The 

Rebels  had  stripped  off  his  arms  and  were  using  the  i 
3 


26  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

corus  language  with  which  the  Yankee  prisoner  is  usually 
saluted,"  when  he  informed  them  that  they  had  been  pursued 
by  only  a  dozen  Yankees  whom  they  might  all  capture  by 
dashing  back  upon  them.  They  charged  back,  were  scattered, 
and  some  of  them  captured  by  our  boys,  and  Whitcomb 
escaped.  Adjutant  Hasbrouck  was  here  captured  and  taken 
to  Richmond. 

One  correspondent  says  of  the  affair:  "The  brilliant 
charge,  of  which  you  were  informed  by  telegraph,  has  estab 
lished  beyond  a  cavil  the  reputation  of  the  Ira  Harris  Guard. 
Hereafter  the  Kebels  will  not  forget  that  there  is  cavalry 
in  this  division  capable  of  driving  back  their  mounted 
guerrillas  in  confusion  and  consternation;  capable  of  using 
the  sabre,  the  proper  instrument  of  the  trooper,  in  close 
hand  to  hand  conflict.  This  is  the  first  time  that  we  have 
heard  from  this  body  of  New  York  cavalry,  and  they  have 
made  a  good  report  of  themselves,  and  done  honor  to  their 
state." 

Another  writer  says:  "I  asked  one  of  the  prisoners, 
if  he  thought  our  boys  could  fight  well.  He  said:  'Only 
that  regular  cavalry  ;  they  fought  like  devils.'  That  regu 
lar  cavalry  was  the  glorious  New  York  Fifth." 

After  returning  from  this  successful  encounter,  some  of 
our  men,  while  bathing  in  the  river  near  New  Market,  were 
attacked  by  bushwhackers,  and  two  men  of  Co.  I  were  killed 
and  one  of  Co.  L  captured. 

The  day  following  this  affair,  the  news  was  received  of 
the  evacuation  of  Yorktown,  and  the  army  was  in  a  great 
jubilee  of  rejoicing.  Consolidated  band?  visited  Generals 
Banks,  Williams  and  Hatch,  and  made  the  town  echo  with 
patriotic  music.  They  also  visited  and  serenaded  the  Fifth 


FIFTH  FEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  27 

Xew  York  in  honor  of  their  gallant  charge  yesterday.  As  that 
had  been  the  first  cavalry  charge  of  the  war,  where  sabres  were 
used,  and  with  such  signal  success,  the  affair  created  much 
comment  at  the  time  in  military  circles. 

On  the  12th  the  whole  force  fell  back  to  Woodstock,  and 
continued  as  far  as  Tom's  Brook  on  the  14th,  at  which  time 
quite  a  skirmish  was  fought  at  Woodstock  by  our  cavalry. 
As.  our  army  fell  back,  its  rear  was  closely  followed  and 
frequently  attacked  by  Ashby's  force.  Consequently  a  strong 
guard  was  required.  On  the  21st,  Gen.  Hatch,  with  about  150 
of  the  Fifth,  made  a  successful  attack  upon  this  force,  driving 
them  many  miles,  killing,  wounding  and  capturing  several 
and  returning  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

Meantime,  Co.  II,  which  had  been  detached  with  Brig. 
Gen.  Sullivan  in  the  Luray  Valley,  during  the  last  of  April, 
had  fought  several  spirited  skirmishes  with  the  enemy  and 
now  rejoined  the  regiment.  While  in  the  Luray  Valley 
they  had  witnessed  a  curious  modus  operaudi,  where  a  force 
of  our  infantry  and  cavalry  was  hard  pressed  by  the  enemy 
on  the  bank  of  the  Shenandoah  river,  which  was  so  high. as 
to  be  unfordable.  As  a  last  resort  the  cavalrymen  plunged 
into  the  stream,  swimming  their  horses,  and  towed  across 
the  infantrymen  who  clung  to  the  animals'  tails. 

May  23 d.  Gen.  Banks  had  been  lying  securely  a  few  days 
in  and  about  Strasburg,  when  he  was  unexpectedly  informed 
by  messengers  of  the  Fifth  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  that  a  sudden 
attack  had  been  made  by  the  great  flanker,  Stonewall 
Jackson,  upon  Col.  Kenly's  force  at  Front  Royal.  Companies 
B  and  D  had  been  sent  to  Col.  Kenly  during  the  afternoon 
arriving  just  as  the  Rebels  began  to  pour  down  the  valley 
and  the  hills  upon  this  devoted  garrison.  The  cavalry  was 


28  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

immediately  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy.  Quickly  obeying 
the  order,  a  splendid  charge  was  made  with  great  force. 
Had  bravery  been  sufficient  to  win,  the  Ira  Harris  Guard 
would  have  again  succeeded,  but,  greatly  outnumbered, 
flanked  and  almost  surrounded,  with  a  large  number  killed, 
wounded  and  captured,  the  remnant  was  driven  back  upon 
our  main  force  which  was  now  retreating  at  a  rapid  rate. 
In  this  charge  fell  the  young  and  brave  Lieutenant  Dwyer, 
Co.  B,  mortally  wounded.  Capt.  A.  II.  White,  Co.  D  (after 
ward  Colonel),  and  Adjutant  Griffin,  while  gallantly  leading 
their  men,  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands. 

Gen.  Banks,  in  his  report  to  the  war  department,  says: 
"Information  was  received  on  the  evening  of  May  23d,  that 
the  enemy  in  very  large  force  had  descended  on  the  guard 
at  Front  Royal,  Col.  Kenly,  First  Md.  Regiment,  commanding, 
burning  bridges  and  driving  our  troops  through  Strasburg, 
with  great  loss.  Owing  to  what  was  deemed  an  extravagant 
statement  of  the  enemy's  strength,  these  reports  were  received 
with  some  distrust;  but  a  regiment  of  infantry,  with  a  strong 
detachment  of  cavalry  and  a  section  of  artillery,  were  imme 
diately  sent  to  reenforce  Col.  Kenly." 

Meanwhile  preparations  were  made  to  fall  back  to  Win 
chester  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Col.  De  Forest  with  six 
companies  of  the  regiment  and  Col.  Tompkins  with  an  equal 
number  of  his  regiment — the  First  Vermont,  with  a  detach 
ment  of  Zouaves  d'Afrique  (Gen.  Banks'  body  guard),  and 
a  section  of  Hampton's  battery,  were  ordered  to  cover  the 
rear  and  to  destroy  stores  not  provided  with  transportation 
at  Strasburg.  But  before  this  could  be  accomplished  the 
enemy  had  pushed  a  force  between  our  main  army  and  this 
rear  guard.  Swift  and  desperate  charges  were  made,  but 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALEY.  31 

a  junction  could  not  be  effected  and  our  men  were  threatened 
with  annihilation.  Middletown  and  Xewtown  Cross  Roads 
were  the  scenes  of  fearful  encounters,  but  the  noble  band 
was  beaten  back  every  time.  At  length,  breaking  away 
from  the  enemy,  this  guard  took  to  the  fields  toward  the 
Little  North  Mountains,  hoping,  by  a  circuitous  route  around 
the  enemy's  flank,  to  be  able  to  join  Gen.  Banks  at  Winches 
ter,  where  Col.  Toinpkins  with  some  artillery  joined  him 
next  day.  Col.  De  Forest,  encumbered  with  a  train,  was  not 
so  fortunate,  but  was  compelled  to  pass  over  the  rugged 
mountain  roads  for  several  days,  reaching  our  army 
at  last  by  way  of  Cherry  Run  and  Clear  Spring,  and  bringing 
in  with  him  a  train  of  32  wagons  and  many  stragglers.  Gen. 
Banks,  after  a  hasty  and  disastrous  retreat,  fell  back  into 
Maryland  at  Williamsport  and  Falling  Waters.  Belle  Boyd, 
the  noted  Rebel  female  spy,  was  undoubtedly  instrumental 
in  causing  our  defeat.  It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that 
she  was  the  bearer  of  an  extensive  correspondence  between 
Rebels  outside  and  inside  our  lines. 

The  following  letter  from  one  of  our  brave  boys,  will 
show  how  Gen.  Banks  saved  his  army  from  utter  destruc 
tion  at  Strasburg: 

WILLIAMSPORT,  MD.,  May  26,  1862. 

Dear  Father  and  Mother  :  You  have  probably  heard  by 
this  time  of  the  three  days'  fighting  from  Strasburg 
and  Front  Royal  to  Martinsburg.  Our  company  and  com 
pany  B  were  ordered  to  Front  Royal  in  the  mountains, 
twelve  miles  from  Strasburg,  last  Friday,  and  when  we  got 
within  two  miles  of  our  destination  we  heard  cannonading. 
The  major1  ordered  the  baggage  to  stop,  and  our  two  com- 

1Maj.  P.  G.  Vought,  commanding  Detachment. 


32  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

panics  dashed  on,  and  found  several  companies  of  our 
infantry  and  two  pieces  of  artillery  engaged  with  several 
thousands  of  the  enemy.  Just  as  we  arrived  on  the  field, 
Col.  Kenly,  who  had  command  of  our  forces,  rode  up  to  me, 
and  ordered  me  to  take  one  man  and  the  two  best  horses  in 
our  company,  and  ride  for  dear  life  to  Gen.  Banks'  head 
quarters  in  Strasbuvg  for  reenforcenient.  The  direct  road  to 
Strasburg  was  occupied  by  the  enemy,  so  I  was  obliged  to 
ride  around  by  another,  seventeen  miles.  I  rode  the  seven 
teen  miles  in  fifty-five  minutes.  Gen.  Banks  did  not  seem 
to  think  it  very  serious,  but  ordered  one  regiment  of  infantry 
and  two  pieces  of  artillery  off.  I  asked  Gen.  Banks  for  a 
fresh  horse  to  rejoin  my  company,  and  he  gave  me  the  best 
horse  that  I  ever  rode,  and  I  started  back.  I  came  out  on 
the  Front  Royal  turnpike,  about  two  miles  this  side  of 
where  I  left  our  men.  Saw  two  men  standing  in  the  road, 
and  their  horses  standing  by  the  fence.  I  supposed  they 
were  our  pickets. 

They  did  not  halt  me,  so  I  asked  them  if  they  were 
pickets.  They  said  no.  Says  I,  "  who  are  you  ?"  "  We  are 
part  of  Gen.  Jackson's  staff."  I  supposed  they  were  only 
joking.  I  laughed,  and  asked  them  where  Jackson  was. 
They  said  he  was  in  the  advance.  1  left  them  and  rode 
toward  Front  Royal,  till  I  overtook  a  soldier,  and  asked  him 
what  regiment  he  belonged  to.  He  said  he  belonged  to  the 
Eighth  Louisiana.  I  asked  how  large  a  force  they  had,  and 
the  reply  was  "  twenty  thousand."  I  turned  back  and  drew 
my  revolver,  expecting  either  a  desperate  fight  or  a  southern 
jail;  but  the  officers  in  the  road  did  not  stop  me,  and  I  was 
lucky  enough  not  to  meet  any  of  their  pickets.  But  if  it 
was  not  a  narrow  escape,  then  I  don't  know  what  is.  When 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  33 

I  got  out  of  the  enemy's  lines,  I  rode  as  fast  as  the  horse 
could  carry  me  to  Gen.  Banks,  .and  reported  what  I  had 
seen  and  heard.  He  said  I  had  saved  the  army. 

In  less  than  an  hour  the  whole  army  was  in  motion 
toward  Winchester.  After  I  left  Front  Royal  to  take  the 
dispatch  to  Strasburg,  our  two  companies  of  cavalry,  who 
were  covering  the  retreat  of  infantry  and  baggage,  were 
attacked  on  three  sides  by  about  three  thousand  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry.  Our  boys  fought  like  devils,  till  nearly 
half  of  them  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  then  retreated  to 
Winchester.  Capt.  White,  William  Watson,  Henry 
Appleby,  and  nine  or  ten  men  of  my  company  are  killed  or 
taken.  William  Marshall  is  all  right,  except  a  slight  sabre 
cut  in  the  shoulder. 

We  had  a  fight  at  Winchester,  got  licked  and  retreat 
ed.  Our  company  and  company  E  were  ordered  to  cover 
the  parrot  gun  battery,  and  bring  up  the  rear.  We  rode 
all  the  way  from  Winchester  to  Martinsburg,  with  cannon 
shot  and  shell  flying  around  us  faster  than  it  did  at  Bull 
Run.  We  crossed  the  Potomac  last  night.  It  was  so  dark 
that  we  could  not  find  the  ford,  and  had  to  swim  our  horses 
across.  We  have  got  our  batteries  in  position  on  this  side, 
and  the  rear  of  the  army  is  crossing. 
From  your  son, 

CHARLEY  H.  GREENLEAF, 

Co.  D.  Fifth  X.  Y.  Cavalry. 

Thus  ended  this  famous  retreat.  It  cost  the  govern 
ment  about  50  wagons,  which  were  either  abandoned  or 
destroyed,  about  nine  hundred  European  rifles  left  at  Stras 
burg  and  large  quantities  of  medical  and  hospital  stores, 
including  surgeons'  instruments,  destroyed  and  abandoned  at 


34  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

Strasburg  and  "Winchester.  The  army  was  considerably  demo 
ralized.  Discouraged  with  their  defeats  many  of  the  boys 
took  advantage  of  their  sojourn  in  Maryland  to  take 
French  furloughs,  though  some  of  them  afterward  returned 
to  their  commands. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

Rebel  Army  Crossing  South  of  Blue  Ridge. —  Successful  Advance 
on  Martinsburg.—  Services  and  Sufferings  of  the  Cavalry. — 
Cavalry  Battle  of  Orange  Court  House. — Fifth  New  York  Boys. — 
Terrible  Dealers  in  Hardware. —  Reconnoissance  to  Louisa 
Court  House. —  Gen.  Stuart's  Adjutant  General  and  Important 
Dispatches  from  Gen.  Lee  Captured. —  Reconnoissance  through 
Snicker's  Gap  and  to  Berryville. —  Capture  of  a  Rebel  Camp, 
one  Stand  of  Colors  and  much  Spoil. —  Charge  on  a  Sutler's 
Shanty. —  Sword  Presented  to  Gen.  J.  P.  Hatch. —  Interesting 
Correspondence. —  May  Blst  to  December  31st,  1862. 

"With  the  valley  cleared  of  the  Yankee  army,  the  Rebels 
began  to  throw  their  forces  across  the  Blue  Ridge  to  attack 
our  main  army  in  front  of  "Washington,  leaving  only  a 
strong  picket  line  at  the  foot  of  the  valley,  opposed  to  our 
army  in  Maryland.  It  soon  became  necessary  to  advance 
across  the  river,  and  ascertain  what  was  in  our  front.  The 
regiment,  which  had  been  divided  in  the  retreat,  now 
advanced  from  Harper's  Ferry  and  from  Williamsport. 
The  former  column  met  the  enemy  at  Charlestown,  and 
drove  him;  and  the  latter  advanced  on  Martinsburg,  drove 
the  pickets  through  the  town  and  captured  several  prisoners, 
a  wagon,  muskets,  ammunition  and  an  American  flag. 
They  also  recaptured  several  of  our  officers  and  men  lost  at 
Front  Royal,  among  them  Adjutant  Griffin.  Several 
engines  and  cars  were  also  captured  from  the  enemy,  who 


36  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

appeared  to  have  been  taken  wholly  by  surprise.  This 
encouraging  advance  took  place  the  last  day  of  May.  On 
the  fourth  of  June  the  regiment  advanced  to  Winchester, 
where  its  fragments  were  reunited.  However,  companies 
B  and  D,  which  had  distinguished  themselves  at  Front 
Royal,  were  detached  from  the  regiment,  to  serve  on  a  bat 
tery.  (See  register  of  companies).  Not  much  was  accom 
plished  during  the  month. 

On  the  sixteenth  the  regiment  received  pay,  marched  to 
Micldletown  on  the  twenty-seventh  and  to  Front  Royal  the 
thirtieth.  This  march  was  continued  to  Flint  Hill,  the 
fifth  of  July,  and  on  the  sixth,  at  Sperryville,  a  squad  of 
Rebel  cavalry  was  encountered  and  a  fight  ensued,  our  boys 
scattering  the  enemy.  The  regiment  was  here  joined  by 
Major  Gardner,  who  had  been  detached  with  Companies  C, 
F,  G,  and  L,  on  the  19th  of  June. 

July  8th.  The  regiment  marched  to  Games'  Cross  Roads, 
advancing  on  Culpepper  Court  House  on  the  twelfth,  where 
it  had  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  drove  them  through  the 
town  and  captured  fifteen  prisoners.  The  sixteenth  the 
boys  enjoyed  an  all-day  march  through  an  all-day  rain,  to 
Rapidan  Ford.  The  next  day  they  marched  into  Orange 
Court  House,  expelling,  after  a  short  skirmish,  the  enemy 
that  was  in  town.  Being  the  first  Union  troops  that  had 
ever  visited  this  place,  they  were  objects  of  excited  obser 
vation.  But  to  the  intense  satisfaction  of  the  people,  they 
left  on  the  eighteenth,  and  returned  to  Rapidan  Ford. 
While  on  pickett  at  Barnctt's  Ford,  a  large  portion  of 
Company  A  was  captured. 

This  was  a  season  of  great  suffering  among  our  men  and 
horses  for  want  of  rations  and  forage,  especially  the  former. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  37 

Being  almost  constantly  on  the  move,  and  most  of  the  time 
on  the  extreme  out-posts,  it  was  not  possible  to  bring  them 
supplies.  Of  the  cavalry  in  general,  one  correspondent 
makes  this  remark  : — "  They  picket  our  outposts,  scout  the 
whole  country  for  information,  open  our  fights,  cover  our 
retreats,  or  clear  up  and  finish  our  victories,  as  the  case 
may  be.  In  short,  they  are  never  idle,  and  rarel}7  find  rest 
for  either  men  or  horses."  And  he  might  have  added, 
"are  often  sadly  in  want."  During  the  remainder  of  July 
no  force  of  the  enemy  was  encountered,  but  the  regiment 
was  almost  constantly  on  the  march,  having  passed  and 
bivouacked  by  the  following  places : —  Sperryville,  Wood- 
ville,  Culpepper  Court  House,  James  City,  Wolftown,  and 
into  the  Luray  Valley,  by  way  of  Swift  Run  Gap,  to  Luray, 
Woodville  again,  and  back  to  Culpepper  Court  House  near 
which  they  bivouacked  until  the  1st  of  August.  On  this  day 
they  marched  to  Raccoon  Ford.  At  this  place  was  concen 
trated  quite  a  force  of  cavalry,  under  Gen.  Crawford,  pre 
paratory  to  an  important  movement.  During  the  month 
Gen.  Hatch  was  removed  from  the  command  of  the  cavalry 
in  this  department.  Gen.  John  Buford  succeeded  him. 

August  2d.  Gen.  Crawford  with  the  1st  Vermont,  1st 
Michigan  and  the  5th  New  York  advanced  at  an  early  hour 
to  reconnoitre  the  force  and  position  of  the  enemy  about 
Orange  Court  House.  Scarcely  a  Rebel  appeared  until  the  col 
umn  approached  the  town.  Without  opposition  the  advance 
entered  the  town,  whose  streets  they  found  deserted,  while 
a  stillness  like  that  of  death  seemed  to  reign  all  around. 
But  suddenly  volley  after  volley  broke  the  stillness,  and 
proclaimed  the  presence  of  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy. 
On  reaching  the  suburbs  of  the  town,  a  strong  flanking  party, 


38  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

consisting  of  Cos.  G  and  H,  under  command  of  Capi. 
Hammond,  was  ordered  around  to  the  left  toward  the  Gor- 
dousville  road,  whither  they  dashed  off  with  spirit,  under 
their  gallant  leader. 

The  main  column  encountered  a  heavy  charge  of  the 
enemy  in  the  street,  which,  at  first,  drove  our  fellows  back  a 
little.  Rallying  from  the  first  shock,  they  now  dashed  back 
upon  the  enemy,  and  a  fierce  conflict  from  pistols  and  car 
bines  followed.  Shots  flew  in  every  direction,  killing  horses 
and  men  alike.  The  fight  was  furious  in  the  narrow  streets; 
and  just  as  the  enemy's  column  began  to  waver,  Capt. 
Hammond,  who  had  fought  the  enemy  at  the  depot,  and  was 
now  partially  surrounded,  with  drawn  sabres  charged  upon 
the  rebels  in  his  front,  crying  as  he  flew  forward,  "  give 
them  your  hardware,  boys !"  And  they  did  the  work  most 
heroically.  Tremendous  were  the  blows  they  dealt,  and 
the  street  was  strewn  with  unhorsed  men  whose  heads  dis 
played  fearful  gashes  from  the  Yankee  sabres.  Lieutenant 
Penfield,  Co.  H,  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  sabre  exer 
cise,  with  a  long,  strong  arm,  and  a  courageous  heart,  did 
terrible  execution  in  this  fray.  The  enemy  could  not 
stand  these  "  hardware "  dealers,  and  fled  in  the  utmost 
confusion,  leaving  their  dead  and  badly  wounded  in  our  hands. 
The  great  number  of  these  only  showed  how  determined 
and  gallant  had  been  our  attack.  Fifty  prisoners  were  cap 
tured,  including  a  major,  a  captain,  and  two  lieutenants. 

During  this  fight,  Col.  De  Forest  had  a  very  narrow  escape 
with  his  life,  and  was  indebted  for  his  preservation  to  bugler 
Bohrer,  of  Co.  I.i 


1  See  Register  of  Co.  I. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  39 

This  engagement  clearly  proved  our  superiority  over  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  which,  in  this  instance,  consisted  of  their 
best  Virginia  regiments  lately  under  Col.  Ashby. 

Heavy  reinforcements  having  been  received  by  the  enemy, 
and  our  work  having  been  accomplished,  our  cavalry  fell 
back  to  the  Rapidan,  where  the  Rebels  ceased  pursuing. 
Here  were  rested  our  victorious  squadrons. 

On  the  4th  the  regiment  inarched  to  Culpepper  and  to 
Madison  Court  House  on  the  5th,  bivouacking  near  the  town. 
From  Wolftown  to  Stannards  on  the  7th  we  formed  a  line  of 
pickets;  and  on  the  9th  was  fought  the  memorable  battle  of 
Cedar  or  Slaughter  Mountain.  Only  a  few  of  the  regiment 
were  engaged  in  this  battle,  one  of  those  being  killed.  A 
slight  skirmish  was  fought  with  the  enemy  on  the  10th  as 
they  fell  back  toward  Gordonsville. 

August  \\tli.  The  regiment  marched  to  Culpepper  Court 
House  and  found  the  town  full  of  our  wounded  from  the  battle 
of  the  9th. 

August  Vlth.  On  a  reconnoissance  to  Barnett's  Ford  on 
the  Rapidan  and  back  to  Culpepper.  Paid  off  on  the  15th 
and  marched  to  Mitchell's  Station  on  the  16th,  preparatory 
to  a  swift  move  on  the 'enemy's  lines. 

August  \lth.  Detachments  of  the  Fifth  New  York  and 
First  Michigan,  Col.  Broadhead  commanding,  marched  out- 
early  on  a  bold  reconnoissance  to  Louisa  Court  House,  where 
they  captured  Gen.  Stuart's  Adjutant  General  and  several 
very  important  dispatches.  Gen.  Pope  in  his  report  speaks 
of  this  affair  as  follows: 

"The  Cavalry  expedition  sent  out  on  the  16th  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Louisa  Court  House,  captured  the  Adjutant  General 
of  Gen.  Stuart,  and  was  very  near  capturing  that  officer 


40  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

himself. T  Among  the  papers  taken  was  an  autograph 
letter  of  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee  to  Gen.  Stuart,  dated  Gordons- 
ville,  August  15th,  which  made  manifest  to  me  the  disposi 
tion  and  force  of  the  enemy  and  their  determination  to 
overwhelm  the  army  under  my  command  before  it  could  be 
reenforced  by  any  portion  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac." 

Having  spent  a  night  in  chasing  through  the  confederate 
lines,  our  men  returned  to  their  own  side  of  the  Rapidan. 
Gen.  Pope's  army  was  falling  back  across  the  Rappahannock, 
and  the  regiment  marched  to  Barnett's  Ford  on  that  river, 
and  held  the  crossing. 

August  20th.  The  regiment  advanced  to  Kelly's  Ford, 
and  took  part  in  a  general  engagement.  They  were  ordered 
to  support  a  battery,  which  was  exposed  to  a  fearful  fire. 
The  colonel  encouraged  his  men  by  a  short  address,  and  they 
did  their  work  well. 

On  the  22d  we  marched  to  Fayetteville,  continued  the 
march  to  Warrenton  the  next  day,  and  on  the  24th  partici 
pated  in  a  severe  engagement  at  Waterloo  Bridge.  Our 
men  suffered  from  the  Rebel  batteries  which  were  brought 
to  bear  upon  them.  During  the  fight  a  shell  took  effect  iu 
our  ranks  killing  instantly  three  horses  belonging  to  the 
three  officers  of  Co.  I  but  fortunately  only  a  few  men  were 
hurt. 

On  the  27th  Cos.  I,  K,  &  L,  were  detached  as  orderlies 
and  escort  of  Gen.  Heintzelman ;  the  balance  of  the  regiment 
was  made  escort  of  Gen.  Pope.  On  the  28th  Company  M 
was  detailed  escort  of  Gen.  Banks,  and  the  main  body  of  the 
regiment  marched  to  Bull  Run  Bridge  and  camped. 


His  belt  was  captured. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  41 

August  29th.  To-day  commenced  what  has  generally  been 
known  as  the  second  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  better  named 
Groveton.  The  Rebels  were  in  overwhelming  force,  driving 
Gen.  Pope  before  them.  Our  lines  fell  back,  and  on  the  30th 
the  conflict  was  renewed  on  the  field  of  the  first  Bull  Run. 
The  field  though  hotly  contested, avas  again  won  by  the  enemy, 
and  though  not  panic-stricken  we  were  compelled  to  retreat. 
Gradually  on  the  31st  our  forces  fell  back  toward  Washington. 

September  1st.  Generals  Kearney  and  Stevens  distin 
guished  themselves  on  the  bloody  field  of  Chantilly,  and  both 
lost  their  lives.  The  regiment  reached  Fairfax  Court  House. 

The  retreat  was  continued  and  the  regiment  camped  at 
the  Arlington  House  on  the  5th.  The  Rebel  army  now 
moved  into  Maryland,  and  on  the  17th  and  19th  was  fought 
the  memorable  battle  of  Antietam. 

October  8th.  Lt.  Col.  Johnstone  with  one  hundred  and  ten 
men  went  out  with  the  brigade  on  a  reconnoissance  to  the 
Rappahannock,  returning,  without  meeting  the  enemy,  on 
the  llth. 

October  15^/L  Another  expedition  went  out  under  Maj. 
Hammond,  marching  the  first  day  to  Chantilly,  then  on  to 
Aldie,  White  Plains,  and  back  to  Centreville  on  the  19th. 
During  this  expedition  skirmishes  were  fought  at  Leesburg, 
Upperville  and  Thoroughfare  Gap,  ending  with  a  running 
fight  from  Haymarket  to  Warrenton  whither  we  drove  the 
rebels. 

On  the  20th  the  regiment  was  ordered  on  picket  at  Chan 
tilly,  where  it  continued  patrolling  and  picketing  the 
country  until  the  twenty-eighth,  when  it  went  to  Centre 
ville,  and  next  day  to  Manassas  Junction  and  back  to 
Chantilly. 


42  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

October  30tft.  We  patrolled  to  Pleasant  Valley,  and 
closed  the  month  by  picketing  by  detachments  at  Pollock's 
Church,  Anandale  and  Centre ville.  This  work  was  very 
dull,  and  yet  very  wearing.  The  weather  was  becoming 
cold  and  unpleasant,  and  picketing  and  scouting  were  not 
very  desirable.  However,. the  month  of  November  was 
wholly  devoted  to  this  work,  so  that  there  was  scarcely  a 
day  of  rest.  The  journal  of  movements  runs  as  follows :  on 
the  first  to  Ceutreville ;  second  to  Bull  Hun  battle  field  and 
picket;  third  to  Gainesville;  fourth  to  Buckland  Mills;  fifth 
to  New  Baltimore  and  have  a  fight;  sixth  to  Buckland 
Mills;  seventh  to  Gainesville;  eighth  through  Hopewell 
Gap,  after  a  skirmish;  ninth  to  Aldie  and  Middleburg; 
tenth  to  Hopewell  Gap;  eleventh  through  Thoroughfare 
Gap  with  a  fight,  and  to  Aldie;  twelfth  to  Middleburg  on 
patrol;  thirteenth  to  Hopewell  Gap;  fourteenth  to  Aldie, 
where  we  rested  on  the  fifteenth.  Such  was  the  cavalry 
service  in  those  days.  On  the  sixteenth  we  had  a  skirmish 
at  Upperville,  and  returned  to  Hopewell  Gap  next  day,  and 
on  to  C handily  the  eighteenth.  Here  we  met  with  a  little 
rest,  the  monotony  of  which  was  broken  by  an  expedition  to 
the  Blue  Ridge  and  into  the  Shenandoah  Valley  and  back. 
This  expedition,  in  command  of  Gen.  Stahel,  commenced  its 
march  November  29th.  The  men  of  the  Fifth  New  York 
Cavalry  were  commanded  by  Capt.  Krom,  Company  G.  In 
Snicker's  Gap  a  Rebel  picket  was  captured.  On  arriving  at 
the  Shenandoah  river  at  Snicker's  Ferry  the  Rebels  annoyed 
our  men  and  prevented  rapid  crossing,  by  firing  from  the 
houses  beyond  the  river.  Capt.  Krom,  with  his  men, 
dashed  across  the  river,  though  the  water  was  deep  and  the 
current  swift.  On  reaching  the  bank  the  Rebels  were 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  43 

furiously  charged  and  driven.  Our  men  pursued  them  at 
the  utmost  speed  of  their  horses  for  about  three  miles, 
when  they  came  upon  the  Rebel  camps,  which  the  enemy 
attempted  to  defend.  Their  effort  failed.  Our  men  being 
reenforcedj  the  enemy  was  beaten  and  fled,  leaving  in  our 
hands  one  captain,  two  lieutenants,  thirty-two  men,  one 
stand  of  colors  and  several  wagons,  one  of  them  filled  with 
tents,  and  others  with  provisions.  Several  ambulances  also 
were  taken  laden  with  articles  which  had  been  taken  by 
White's  men,  in  a  recent  raid  into  Poolsville,  Maryland. 
Sixty  horses  and  fifty  head  of  cattle  were  also  captured  in 
this  gallant  charge.  The  expedition  returned  on  the  30th 
through  Leesburg,  Goose  Creek,  Broad  Kun  to  Chantilly. 

December  \st.  To  our  old  duty  again  on  picket  until  the 
4th,  near  Chantilly.  On  the  10th  we  picketed  at  Centre- 
ville,  and  did  the  same  duty  on  the  Bull  Kun  battle  field, 
on  the  12th.  Marched  to  Chantilly  the  13th  and  picketed 
till  the  28th.  Being  relieved  from  this  duty,  we  were 
immediately  sent  on  a  scout  to  Union  Mills  and  Fairfax 
Station,  spending  the  night  at  Fairview. 

December  29th.  Stuart's  raiders  came  through  our  lines 
and  passed  near  our  camp  on  their  return.  The  regiment 
was  sent  in  pursuit.  We  followed  them  about  six  miles, 
but  found  their  force  too  strong  for  us  to  attack.  On  the 
30th  we  returned  to  Chantilly  on  picket,  and  ended  the 
year  by  falling  back  to  Fairfax  Court  House,  where  the 
boys,  actuated  by  mischief  and  with  a  desire  of  having 
something  with  which  to  celebrate  the  coming  New  Year, 
made  a  charge  upon  a  sutler's  shanty,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  much  spoil  and  in  a  general  victory. 

The  following  correspondence  will  explain  itself: 


44  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

2i>  CAVALRY  BRIGADE,  3d  Army  Corps^  \ 
Near  Fort  Scott,  Fa.,  December  3d,  1862.  » 

To  Brig.  Gen.  JOHN  P.  HATCH  : 

General :  The  accompanying  sabre  is  presented  to  you  by 
the  officers  of  the  First  Vermont  and  Fifth  New  York  Cav 
alry. 

We  have  served  under  you  while  you  commanded  the 
Cavalry  in  Virginia  —  a  period  of  active  operations  and 
military  enterprise  —  during  which  your  courage  and  judg 
ment  inspired  us  with  confidence,  while  your  zeal  and 
integrity  have  left  us  an  example  easier  to  be  admired  than 
imitated. 

We,  who  have  passed  with  you  beyond  the  Rapidan,  and 
through  Swift  Run  Gap,  are  best  able  to  recognize  your 
qualities  as  a  commander. 

Accept,  therefore,  General,  this  testimonial  of  esteem, 
offered  long  after  we  were  removed  from  your  command, — 
when  the  external  glitter  of  an  ordinary  man  ceases  to  affect 
the  mind,  but  when  real  worth  begins  to  be  appreciated. 

On  behalf  of  the  Officers  of  the  Fifth  New  York. 

ROBERT  JOHNSTONE, 
Lt.  Col.  5th  New  York  Cavalry. 

Oswego,  N.  Y.  Dec.  15th,  1862. 

To  the  Officers  of  the  Fifth  New  York  and  First  Vermont 
Regiments  of  Cavalry  : 

Gentlemen :  A  very  beautiful  sabre,  your  present  to  my 
self,  has  been  received.  I  shall  wear  it  with  pride,  and  will 
never  draw  it  but  in  an  honorable  cause. 

The  very  kind  letter  accompanying  the  sabre  has  caused 
emotions  of  the  deepest  nature.  The  assurance  it  gives 
of  the  confidence  you  feel  in  myself,  and  your  approval  of 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  45 

my  course  when  in  command  of  Banks'  Cavalry,  is  particu 
larly  gratifying.  You,  actors  with  myself  in  those  stirring 
scenes,  are  competent  judges  as  to  the  propriety  of  my  course, 
when  it  unfortunately  did  not  meet  with  the  approval  of  my 
superior ;  and  your  testimony,  so  handsomely  expressed, 
after  time  has  allowed  opportunity  for  reflection,  more  than 
compensates  for  the  mortification  of  that  moment. 

I  have  watched  with  pride  the  movements  of  your  regi 
ments,  since  my  separation  from  you.  When  a  telegram 
has  announced  that  "  in  a  Cavalry  fight,  the  edge  of  the  sabre 
was  successfully  used,  and  the  enemy  routed,"  the  further 
announcement  that  the  Fifth  New  York  and  First  Vermont 
were  engaged,  was  unnecessary. 

Accept  my  kindest  wishes  for  your  future  success, — 
sharp  sabres  and  a  trust  in  Providence,  will  enable  you  to 
secure  it  in  the  field. 

Yery  truly,  my  friends, 

Your  obedient  Servant 

JOHN  P.  HATCH, 
Brigadier  General. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Mosby,  the  Guerrilla. —  His  men. —  Picketing  against  him  at  Chan- 
tilly. — Building  Winter  Quarters  at  Germaritown. — Descrip 
tion.  —  Mosby  at  Fairfax  Court  House.  — Fight  at  Chantilly. — 
At  Warrenton  Junction. — Congratulatory  Order  of  Command 
ing  General.  — Fight  at  Greenwich.  —  Capture  of  a  Howitzer.  — 
Gallant  Conduct  of  Lieut.  Barker. —  Jan.  1st  to  June  14th,  1863. 

The  campaign  of  1862  had  ended,  and  the  two  great  armies 
had  constructed  their  winter  quarters  facing  each  other, 
along  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock,  the  Rebels  occupying 
the  south  bank  above  and  below  the  heights  of  Fredericks- 
burg,  and  the  Federals  stretching  their  camps  for  many 
miles  on  the  northern  shore  above  and  below  Falmouth. 
Between  this  line  and  that  of  the  defenses  of  Washington 
lies  a  vast  territory,  which  abounds  in  creeks,  marshes,  deep, 
sombre  forests,  with  only  here  and  there  a  village  or  settle 
ment.  A  little  to  the  west  runs  the  chain  of  the  Bull  Run 
Mountains,  with  their  ravines  and  caverns.  This  is  a  very 
fit  hiding  place  for  guerrillas  and  bushwhackers,  who,  in  con 
siderable  numbers,  infest  the  country,  and  commit  their 
depredations  on  our  lines.  These  guerrillas  consist  mostly 
of  farmers  and  mechanics,  residents  of  this  region  of  country, 
who  are  exempt  from  the  Rebel  conscription.  They  gene 
rally  follow  their  usual  avocation  during  the  day,  and  congre 
gate  at  certain  localities  at  night  ready  for  any  work  proposed 


FIFTH  XEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  47 

by  their  leader,  though  each  is  often  found  to  act  quite 
independently  of  the  rest.  Their  commander-in-chief  is 
John  S.  Mosby,  who,  as  a  Rebel  soldier  who  had  known  him 
from  childhood  up  informed  the  writer,  had  always  been  a 
sort  of  guerrilla  —  deserting  from  his  home  in  mere  boyhood 
—  fighting  duels  as  a  pastime  —  roving  the  country  far  and 
wide  in  search  of  pleasure  orprofit  —  andfindingnow  hischief 
delight  in  the  adventures  of  guerrilla  life.  Under  such 
leadership  this  guerrilla  force  has  become  very  formidable, 
and  a  strong  picket  line  was  necessary  at  some  distance  from 
the  defenses  of  Washington. 

January  1st,  1863.  The  regiment  celebrated  this  anni 
versary  by  marching  from  Fairfax  Court  House  to  Chantilly, 
and  was  there  posted  on  picket,  to  guard  against  the  incur 
sions  of  Mosby  and  his  gang.  The  peculiar  nature  of  the 
force  opposed  to  us  requires  special  pains  in  the  picketing. 
The  main  reserve,  established  from  one  to  two  miles  from 
the  line  of  videttes,  is  so  situated  as  to  be  within  easy  striking 
distance  of  each  picket  relief — at  least  when  this  can  be 
done  —  so  as  to  render  speedy  assistance  in  case  of  an  attack 
on  any  portion  of  the  line. 

The  boys  will  not  soon  forget  the  dreary,  dangerous  hours 
they  spent  along  this  picket  line.  In  fancy  they  will  see 
themselves  shivering  around  a  miserable  fire  among  the 
piics,  compelled  often  to  sit  or  lie  down  in  snow  or  mud. 
In  this  plight  they  hear  the  summons  to  be  ready  to  stand 
post.  Mounted  upon  their  shivering  horses,  the  poor  fel 
lows  with  nothing  cheering  but  their  courage,  go  out  to  sit 
in  the  saddle  for  two  hours,  facing  the  biting  wind,  and 
peering  through  the  storm  of  sleet,  snow  or  rain,  which  pelts 
them  in  the  face  mercilessly.  Happy  if  the  guerrilla  does 


48  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

not  creep  through  bushes  impenetrable  to  the  sight,  to  in 
flict  his  cruel  blows.  The  two  hours  expired,  relief  comes 
and  the  vidette  returns  to  spend  his  four,  six,  or  eight 
hours  off  duty  as  best  he  may. 

January  5th.  At  a  post  called  Frying  Pan,  the  pickets 
were  attacked  by  guerrillas,  and  quite  a  number  of  men 
were  captured.  The  nature  of  the  country  is  such  as  to 
afford  the  enemy  the  greatest  possible  advantage.  Deep 
ravines,  skirted  by  massive  foliage  summer  and  winter,  give 
him  shelter,  while  his  knowledge  of  every  road  and  foot 
path  gives  him  a  fine  opportunity  to  escape  with  his  booty 
in  case  of  pursuit. 

January  6th.  Several  men  were  captured  and  one  wounded 
on  picket  near  Cub  Run.  The  guerrillas  are  very  active. 
The  utmost  vigilance  on  our  part  cannot  secure  us  perfectly 
from  their  depredations.  The  only  way  to  rid  ourselves  of 
this  plague  would  be  to  scour  the  entire  country  with  a 
large  force,  arrest  every  male  inhabitant  able  to  carry  a 
musket,  and  burn  to  the  ground  every  building,  including 
houses,  where  these  bushwhackers  reside  or  find  refuge.  To 
so  stern  a  punishment,  falling  upon  innocent  and  guilty 
with  like  terror,  the  government  is  not  willing  to  resort. 
If  the  war  is  to  continue  long  this  would  prove  to  be  true 
policy,  saving  the  lives  of  many  of  our  brave  boys. 

January  Wth.  From  the  Chantilly  mansion,  owned  by 
one  of  the  Stuarts,  the  regiment  moved  to  Germantown, 
pitching  camp  on  a  pine-covered  knoll.  The  streets  are 
laid  out  quite  regularly  by  companies,  a  space  averaging 
about  25  or  30  feet  being  occupied  by  each  company.  The 
men  construct  stockades  of  logs  about  3  feet  high,  on  which 
they  place  their  tents,  called  A  tents,  on  account  of  reseni- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  49 

blance  to  that  letter.  Chimneys  are  made  of  stone,  or  of 
hricks  found  in  the  remains  of  destroyed  houses  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  sometimes  of  sticks  of  wood  carefully 
laid  in  mud,  which  is  by  no  means  very  inferior  mortar. 
With  this  material  the  crevices  of  the  stockades  are  also 
well  plastered,  making  the  soldier's  cabin  quite  tight  and 
warm,  if  he  is  not  too  idle  to  supply  himself  amply  with 
fuel.  In  front  of  the  tents  is  a  street  which  has  to  be 
corduroyed  or  it  will  become  impassable  for  mud,  and  just 
across  the  street  are  the  stables  for  the  horses.  These  are 
usually  covered  with  a  thick  thatching  of  pine  boughs,  which 
afford  a  tolerable  shelter  for  the  cavalryman's  trusty  friend. 

January  \\th.  The  regiment  went  on  a  scouting  party 
to  Brentsville,  and  returned  by  way  of  Bristoe  Station  and 
Manassas  Junction. 

January  12th.  A  false  alarm  aroused  the  entire  camp, 
which  consists  of  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  composed  of  the 
First  Virginia  (Union),  Eighteenth  Pennsylvania  and  Fifth 
New  York  regiments  of  cavalry. 

January  13th.  Another  false  alarm  disturbed  our  usual 
rest;  and  before  quieting  down  again  we  were  sent  on 
picket,  to  remain  about  five  days.  \Ye  were  relieved  on 
the  17th. 

January  17th.  Sergt.  Maj.  Gall  and  1st  Sergt.  Bryant, 
Company  G,  went  to  Buckland  Mills  with  a  flag  of  truce. 

January  20th.  Companies  E  and  G  went  on  picket  at 
Frying  Pan,  dismounted,  that  they  might  be  the  better 
prepared  for  guerillas  should  they  appear. 

January  21th.  The  same  companies  were  ordered  out 
on  a  scouting  party  to  Herndon  Station,  and  captured  a 


50  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

sutler's  wagon,  which  was  being  smuggled  into  the  Rebel 
lines,  and  some  prisoners. 

January  26th.  Mosby  made  an  attack  on  the  18th  Pa. 
on  picket  near  Chantilly  Church,  capturing  11.  The  Fifth 
N.  Y.  was  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  guerrillas.  Having  reached 
Middleburg,  Maj.  Hammond,  iu  command,  ordered  a  charge 
through  the  town,  which  was  executed  handsomely  and  with 
entire  success,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  25  prisoners 
and  the  scattering  of  Mosby 's  men.  The  entire  party,  save 
one  man  captured,  returned  safely  to  camp,  after  a  journey 
of  34  miles. 

January  29/7i.  We  resumed  picketing  this  morning, 
only  a  small  portion  of  the  regiment  remaining  in  camp. 

January  30/A.  The  regiment  was  relieved  from  picket 
until  further  orders.  The  object,  doubtless,  is  to  give  us  other 
work  to  do. 

February  2d.  We  were  ordered  out  on  a  scout.  Passed 
through  Centreville  about  sundown.  Followed  the  pike 
over  the  Bull  Hun  battle  field,  by  Gainesville  and  New  Balti 
more,  arriving  at  Wrarrenton,  as  the  town  clock  struck  12 
of  the  night.  No  force  of  the  enemy  was  fouud  in  town. 
One  hundred  muskets  were  captured  and  destroyed.  Patrols 
were  sent  to  Waterloo  Bridge  and  Sulphur  Springs.  The 
country  appeared  to  be  clear  of  the  enemy.  Having  accom 
plished  the  object  of  our  scout  we  returned  to  camp,  after 
a  cold,  dreary  journey. 

February  Sth.  The  regiment  was  again  sent  out  to  scout 
the  country.  At  Bristoe  Station  companies  F  and  H,  with 
Capt.  Penfield  in  command,  were  sent  to  Warren  ton.  On 
their  way  at  New  Baltimore  they  encountered  quite  a  force 
of  the  enemy,  with  which  they  had  a  spirited  skirmish, 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  51 

which  was  repeated  but  with  less  energy  at  "Warrenton, 
next  day.  The  main  body  of  the  regiment  on  the  10th 
drove  in  the  enemy's  pickets  near  Spotted  Tavern,  where 
they  captured  two  prisoners. 

February  llth.  The  regiment  moved  to  within  four 
miles  of  Falmouth,  and  then  turned  northward  through 
Stafford  Court  House.  It  pursued  its  journey  through 
Dumfries,  Wolf  Run  Shoals,  Fairfax  Station  and  Court 
House,  reaching  camp  on  the  13th,  after  a  very  fatiguing 
journey. 

February  18^/t.  Company  G  was  sent  on  a  scout  to  Hern- 
don  Station. 

February  2\st.  Received  orders  to  resume  picket  duty. 

February  25th.  During  the  night  the  18th  Penn.  lost 
twenty  men  and  thirty  horses  on  picket,  by  Mosby. 

February  2Qth.  Major  Bacon,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
one  men,  started  on  a  scout,  passing  through  Centreville. 
Not  being  able  to  cross  the  Bull  Run  bridge,  he  returned  to 
Centreville,  where  were  rendezvoused  other  cavalry. 

February  27th.  The  whole  command  under  Col.  Wynd- 
ham  moved  to  Bealeton  Station  and  thence  to  Falmouth. 
The  going  was  horribly  muddy,  many  horses  giving  out  by 
the  way.  This  was  the  most  remarkable  feature  of  the 
expedition.  After  resting  ourselves  and  animals  for  a  few 
days  at  Falmouth,  the  expedition  returned  to  camp  by  way 
of  Stafford  Court  House  and  Wolf  Run  Shoalsr  arriving 
March  3d,  very  much  exhausted. 

March  1st.  Capt.  Farley  with  seventy-two  men  was  sent 
on  a  scout  to  Aldie,  and  returned  without  meeting  the 
enemy. 

March  9th.  About   three    o'clock   A.    M.,   Mosby   and   his 
5 


52  HISTORIC  RECORDS 

gang,  led  by  Sergeant  J.  F.  Ames,1  formerly  of  company  L, 
of  this  regiment,  having  safely  passed  by  the  pickets, 
entered  Fairfax  Court  House.  Without  scarcely  firing  a  shot, 
they  captured  fifty  fine  horses  and  about  thirty  prisoners, 
including  Brig.  Gen.  Stoughton,  and  Capt.  Barker,  Fifth 
New  York  Cavalry.  The  brigade  was  sent  in  pursuit  of 
the  dashing  party,  each  regiment  taking  different  routes; 
but  they  returned  at  night  unsuccessful,  the  Fifth  New 
York  having  gone  to  Herndon  Station.  Such  a  raid,  five 
or  six  miles  within  our  lines,  resulting  in  such  a  heavy  loss 
to  us,  reflects  very  uncreditably  upon  some  of  our  military 
leaders,  while  it  shows  how  wily  a  foe  we  have  to  contend 
with.  It  is  thought  that  not  a  few  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  region  are  more  or  less  engaged  in  the  business  of  giy- 
ing  Mosby  important  information,  which  lays  the  founda 
tion  of  his  success. 

March  12th.  We  sent  two  hundred  men  on  picket, 
averaging  the  number  from  the  different  companies. 

March  14th.  Maj.  White  with  first  battalion  went  out  at 
night  as  a  reserve  for  the  pickets.  We  are  almost  constantly 
on  duty.  One  small  brigade  of  cavalry  is  doing  the  duty 
that  one  division  should  do. 

March  15^.  We  moved  our  camp  a  little  below  Fairfax 
Court  House  on  a  fine  elevation,  which  overlooks  the  sur 
rounding  country.  Before  night  snow  and  hail  began  to  fall, 
and  a  terrible  night  was  experienced.  The  mercury  at  5 
p.  M.  stood  at  28°  30'. 

March  ISth.  The  regiment  went  on  picket  for  24  hours. 


after   deserting    to   Mosby,   was    called  Big  Yankee. 
He  became  efficient  for  the  Rebels  and  was  finally  killed. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  53 

March  23cZ.  Went  out  on  picket  again.  About  5  p.  M. 
Mosby  made  an  attack  on  the  pike,  introducing  himself 
by  shooting  the  first  vidette  he  came  to  through  the  head. 
The  main  reserve  being  alarmed,  formed  and  pursued  this 
force  about  three  miles.  Here  a  barricade  of  trees  is 
thrown  across  the  road,  back  of  which  the  guerrillas  had 
formed  themselves.  Our  column  was  stopped  by  a  fire  of 
carbines  and  pistols,  and  by  a  flank  fire  from  the  woods. 
At  this  inopportune  moment  the  Rebels  made  a  charge, 
which  broke  our  column.  Our  boys  were  then  driven  back 
furiously.  Some  horses  giving  out,  the  hapless  riders  were 
captured.  By  the  heroic  exertions  of  Major  White  and 
the  arrival  of  the  reserve  from  Frying  Pan,  the  boys  were 
rallied  and  the  Rebels  again  driven  back,  and  pursued  for 
eight  miles.  But  they  escaped  after  inflicting  upon  us  very 
serious  injury.  For  some  reason  the  regiment  never  acted 
with  so  little  concert,  and  was  never  so  badly  beaten  by  so 
small  a  force,  supposed  to  be  about  eighty  strong.  Every 
one  felt  mortified  at  the  result  of  this  day's  work,  and 
resolved  to  retrieve  our  fortunes  on  some  more  fortunate 
occasion. 

March  25th.  Maj.  Gen.  Stahel  took  command  of  this 
cavalry  division,  composed  of  three  brigades.  The  third 
brigade  is  composed  of  the  1st  Virginia,  18th  Pennsylvania 
and  Fifth  New  York. 

March  21th.  We  went  on  picket  with  Maj.  Bacon  for 
2-1  hours. 

March  30^.  Picket  duty  again  with  Maj.  White. 

April  2d.  Maj.  Bacon  went  out  again  with  the  regiment 
on  picket.  The  three  regiments  of  the  brigade  do  picket 
duty  by  turn,  being  on  duty  one  day  and  off  two. 


54  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

April  6th.  We  sent  out  one  hundred  men  for  picket. 

April  \2th.  The  3d  brigade  paraded  for  muster,  under 
orders  from  Col.  De  Forest,  who  was  assigned  to  the  com 
mand  as  acting  brigadier  general,  the  seventh  inst.  His 
command  appeared  well  on  parade.  He  rides  his  horse 
beautifully,  and  presents  a  very  soldierly  bearing. 

April  \ltli.  The  18th  Pennsylvania  was  transferred  to  the 
2d  brigade,  and  the  1st  Virginia,  with  which  we  were  so 
often  associated  in  1862,  was  transferred  to  the  3d  brigade. 

April  18^/t.  Our  brigade  made  a  reconnoissance  to  Cat- 
lett's  Station. 

April  2lst.  The  regiment  received  the  new  and  beautiful 
flag,  ordered  for  us  by  the  city  of  New  York,  in  November, 
1862.  For  some  reason  unknown  to  us,  it  has  been  long 
delayed. 

April  21  tli.  Gen.  Stahel,  with  the  2d  and  3d  brigades  and 
a  light  battery  of  four  guns,  moved  out  about  6  A.  M.  on  a 
reconnoissance.  As  each  regiment  wended  its  way  from  its 
camp  to  Fairfax  Court  House,  the  place  of  concentration, 
presenting  the  appearance  of  a  vast  serpent,  winding  its 
folds  through  its  accustomed  path  among  the  hills,  the 
morning  sunlight  fell  with  magical  effect  upon  the  scene, 
producing,  an  impression  which  the  beholder  does  not  soon 
forget.  The  force  moved  on  to  two  miles  beyond  Middle- 
burg. 

April  2%tli.  The  regiment  being  detached,  moved  out  two 
miles,  sent  patrols  to  Upperville,  and  rejoined  the  division, 
with  which  we  moved  to  Rectortown,  Salem,  White  Plains, 
and  back  to  Middleburg.  Thirty-five  prisoners  were 
captured,  mostly  guerrillas  of  Mosby's  gang. 

April    2Sth.  The    division     moved    east    of    Aldie  and 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  55 

bivouacked  for  a  few  hours.  After  dark  we  moved  back  to 
our  camps  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  arriving  after  midnight. 
The  boys  made  the  old  hills  ring  with  shouts  of  delight  on 
returning  to  their  tented  homes. 

May  1st.  Col.  De  Forest,  with  the  3d  brigade,  moved  to 
Bristoe  Station.  The  command  had  two  days'  rations. 

May  2d.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  reconnoitre  as  far 
as  Rappahaunock  Station ;  and  having  accomplished  its 
task,  returned  to  Warrenton  Junction. 

May  3d.  At  an  early  hour  the  1st  Virginia  cavalry, 
while  feeding  and  watering  their  horses,  were  surprised  by 
a  force  of  Rebels,  consisting  of  detachments  of  the  Black 
Horse  Cavalry,  Mosby's  and  other  guerrilla  forces,  with 
Mosby  commanding  in  person.  Our  boys,  being  thus  dis 
mounted,  fled  to  a  house  near  by,  where  they  fought  with 
terrible  earnestness,  but  to  great  disadvantage.  All  efforts 
of  Mosby  to  make  them  surrender  were  in  vain.  Finding 
that  he  could  not  intimidate  them  with  bullets,  he  ordered 
the  torch  to  be  applied,  and  the  house  was  set  on  fire.  At 
this  critical  moment,  the  Fifth  New  York,  which  had  bivou 
acked  in  a  grove  at  a  short  distance  from  the  scene  of  action, 
with  Maj.  Hammond  commanding  in  person,  descended  like 
an  avalanche  upon  the  guerrillas.  Mosby  was  heard  to 
exclaim,  "  My  God  !  it  is  the  Fifth  New  York  !"  A  hand 
to  hand  encounter  now  took  place,  where  Yankee  sabres 
were  used  with  fearful  effect,  and  soon  the  Rebels  broke  and 
fled,  entirely  demoralized  and  panic  stricken.  Gen.  Stahel, 
in  his  dispatch'to  Gen.  Heintzelman,  says :  "  The  Rebels,  who 
fled  in  the  direction  of  Warrenton,  were  pursued  by  Maj. 
Hammond,  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  who  has  returned  and 
reports  our  charge  at  Warrenton  Junction  as  being  so  terrific 


56  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

as  to  have  thoroughly  routed  and  scattered  them  in  every 
direction.  I  have  sent  in  23  prisoners  of  Mosby's  command, 
all  of  whom  are  wounded  —  the  greater  part  of  them  badly. 
Dick  Moran  (a  notorious  bushwhacker)  is  among  the  number. 
There  are  also  three  officers  of  Mosby's.  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  was  very  heavy  in  killed  besides  many  wounded,  who 
scattered  and  prevented  capture.  I  have  no  hopes  of  the 
recovery  of  Maj,  Steele,1  of  the  1st  Virginia.  Our  loss  is 
one  killed  and  fourteen  wounded." 

Templeton,  a  Rebel  spy,  was  killed.  In  the  Richmond 
Sentinel  of  May  16th,  we  find  this  interesting  notice  of  the 
fight : — "  About  the  1st  of  May,  near  Warrenton  Junction, 
Mosby,  with  his  company,  fell  in  with  the  First  Virginia 
regiment,  so  called,  which  has  been  a  long  time  looking  for 
him.  A  fight  ensued,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the 
whole  regiment.  As  Mosby  was  making  off  with  his  prize, 
however,  the  First  Vermont'2  and  Fifth  New  York  beset 
him  and  recaptured  the  Virginia  Yankees.  Mosby's  loss 
was  small,  and  he  wants  to  know  whether  the  First  Virginia 
is  looking  for  him  again." 

The  following  Complimentary  Order  was  issued: 

HEAD  QRS.  STAHEL'S  CAVALRY  DIVISION, 

Department  of  Washington, 

Fairfax  Court  House,  May  5,  18G3. 

SPECIAL  ORDERS  No.  30. 

When  soldiers  perform  brave  deeds  a  proper  acknowledg 
ment  of  their  services  is  justly  their  due.  The  commanding 


1  He  was  a  noble   officer  and  a  splendid  soldier.     His  wound 
proved  mortal.     His  funeral  services  were  attended  with  military 
honors,  Sunday,  May  31st. 

2  The  First  Vermont  was  not  engaged. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  57 

general  therefore  desires  to  express  his  gratification  at  the 
conduct  cf  the  officers  and  men  of  Col.  De  Forest's  com 
mand,  who  were  engaged  in  the  fight  at  Warrenton  Junction, 
on  Sunday,  May  3d,  1863.  By  your  promptness  and 
gallantry  the  gang  of  guerrillas  who  have  so  long  infested 
the  vicinity,  has  been  badly  beaten  and  broken  up.  The 
heavy  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners, 
proves  the  determination  of  your  resistance  and  the  vigor  of 
your  attack. 

Deeds  like  this  are  worthy  of  emulation  and  give  strength 
and  confidence  to  the  command. 

By  command  of 

MAJ.  GEN.  STAHEL. 
HENRY  BALDWIN,  JR.,  Major  and  A.  A.  G. 

This  order  was  followed  by  another  of  similar  import  by 
3iaj.  Gen.  Heintzelman,  commanding  the  department. 

May  8th.  Capt.  Me  Masters,  with  six  men,  was  attacked 
and  pursued  by  a  squad  of  the  Black  Horse  Cavalry,  while 
on  his  way  from  the  picket  lines  to  Fairfax  Court  House. 
One  of  his  men  was  captured,  and  another,  Sergt.  Mur 
phy,  Company  C,  was  drowned  while  endeavoring  to  ford 
Bull  Run. 

May  \\th.  A  scouting  party,  of  the  regiment  went  to 
Rappahannoek  Station.  They  saw  a  few  Rebels,  but  had  no 
•encounter  with  them. 

May  13^L  The  pickets  were  driven  in  by  the  enemy, 
with  some  confusion.  Bands  of  guerrillas  like  so  many 
ravenous  beasts  and  birds  of  prey,  hover  around  our  lines, 
attacking  wherever  an  opportunity  offers  plunder. 

May  15*7t.     We  were   ordered  to  Kettle  Run,    a  little 


58  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

south  of  Bristoe  Station,  and  we  camped  along  the  rail 
road. 

May  \ltli.  A  scouting  party,  under  Capt.  Hasbrouck, 
went  to  Brentsville,  and  toward  Dumfries,  and  returned  with 
out  meeting  any  force  of  the  enemy. 

May  25th.  While  the  main  portion  of  the  regiment  was 
picketing  along  the  rail  road  a  sufficient  number  of  men 
remained  in  camp  to  care  for  it.  To-day  the  camp  was 
moved  about  a  half  mile  north  into  a  piece  of  woods,  with  a 
clean,  grassy  field  just  in  front. 

May  30*7*.  Between  seven  and  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  the 
cavalry  pickets  and  reserves  were  startled  by  artillery  firing, 
just  below  them  on  the  rail  road.  A  train  laden  with 
rations  and  forage  had  passed  on  its  way  to  the  llappahan- 
nock,  but  a  few  moments  before.  It  was  soon  ascertained 
that  the  guerrillas  had  carefully  unfastened  one  of  the  iron 
rails,  in  the  woods,  and  by  means  of  a  wire  fastened  to  it, 
and  extended  at  some  distance  from  the  road,  a  man  had 
drawn  the  rail  out  of  place  just  as  the  engine  was  approach 
ing  it,  and  thus  stopped  the  whole  train.  A  mountain  how 
itzer  had  been  placed  in  position,  which  immediately 
plunged  a  shell  through  the  train.  The  infantry  guard  oil 
board  the  train  fled  in  confusion,  leaving  the  whole  ground 
to  the  Rebels,  who  destroyed  the  train  by  fire.  But  the 
cavalry  had  been  aroused,  and  detachments  of  the  First 
Vermont  and  Fifth  New  York,  each  in  separate  routes, 
commenced  a  vigorous  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  Mosby,  who 
commanded  in  person,  did  not  anticipate  so  sudden  an  attack 
as  was  made.  The  detachment  of  the  Fifth,  after  going 
about  two  miles,  came  within  range  of  the  howitzer,  which 
sent  a  slnll,  that  exploded  in  the  midst  of  the  solid -column. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  59 

Fortunately  no  one  was  hurt,  except  that  Lieut.  Boutelle, 
Company  A,  was  suddenly  dismounted  by  the  killing  of  his 
horse.  The  nature  of  the  ground  was  unfavorable  for  a 
cavalry  charge.  The  enemy,  however,  showed  no  disposi 
tion  to  fight  but  fled  toward  Warrenton  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
firing  an  occasional  shot.,  but  without  inflicting  injury. 
Eagerly  the  boys  spurred  on  their  chargers,  and  were  soon 
joined  by  the  Vermonters,  who  added  fresh  excitement  to 
the  pursuit.  The  Rebels,  finding  themselves  too  closely 
followed,  and  knowing  that  something  desperate  must  be 
done,  suddenly  turning  at  the  head  of  a  narrow  lane,  brought 
their  artillery  into  position  and  commenced  firing.  "  That 
gun  must  be  silenced  or  captured,"  cried  Lieut.  Barker, 
of  Company  H,  "and  who  will  volunteer  to  charge  it  with 
me?"  About  thirty  brave  men  promptly  responded,  and 
suiting  the  action  to  the  words,  "  charge,  boys  !"  he  rushed 
furiously  forward  at  their  head,  but  fell  severely  wounded 
before  a  murderous  discharge  of  grape  and  canister,  which 
killed  three  men  and  wounded  several  others.  But  before 
the  piece  could  be  reloaded  the  surviving  cojnrades  were 
crossing  sabres  with  the  gunners  over  the  gun.  The  con 
flict  was  a  fierce  one,  but  of  short  duration;  the  boys  in  blue 
retaking  the  twelve  pound  howitzer,  which  had  been  cap 
tured  by  the  Rebels  from  the  lamented  Col.  Baker  at  Ball's 
Bluff.  Among  the  enemy's  wounded  and  captured  was  a 
Capt.  Haskins,  formerly  in  high  rank  in  the  British  army, 
who  had  run  the  blockade  and  espoused  the  Rebel  cause. 
He  received  his  death  wound  as  follows :  Having  wounded 
Geo.  H.  Jenkins,  private  of  Company  F,  he  roughly  cried 
out,  "  Surrender,  you  damned  Yankee."  "  I  will  see  you 
damned  first,"  was  Jenkins'  characteristic  reply,  at  the 


60  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

same  time  lodging  a  pistol  ball  in  the  captain's  neck.  The 
Rebels  were  completely  routed,  and  pursued  as  far  as  the 
jaded  condition  of  our  horses  would  permit.  In  the  corre 
spondence  of  Mr.  George  H.  Hart,  we  find  the  following 
quotable  sentence  :  "  The  troops  fought  gallantly,  and  the 
Fifth  New  York  ably  sustained  its  claim  to  the  title  of  the 
Fighting  Fifth;  nor  were  the  First  Vermonters  behind 
hand." 

This  engagement  has  been  known  as  the  battle  of  Green 
wich,  from  a  little  village  near  by,  bearing  that  name. 

June  10^.  Adjutant  Gall,  with  a  small  party,  encoun 
tered  a  squad  of  Mosby's  men  at  Middleburg  and  captured 
Lieut.  Turner  in  command. 

June  \±ih.  The  regiment  returned  to  camp  at  Fairfax 
Court  House,  from  Kettle  Kun3  and  awaited  further  orders. 


CHAPTEE  V. 

Gen.  Lee  Invades  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania. — Breaking  Camp 
at  Fairfax  Court  House. —  Fidelity  of  the  Horse. —  March  over 
Bull  Run  Battle  Field. —  Reorganization  of  the  Cavalry  Corps. — 
Kilpatrick  in  Command  of  the  Third  Division. —  Cavalry  Battle 
of  Hanover,  Pennsylvania. —  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  Third  Day. — 
Attack  on  Rebel  Train  in  Monterey  Pass. —  Battle  of  Hagers- 
town. —  Battle  of  Boonsboro'. —  Attack  on  Rear  Guard  of  Rebel 
Army  at  Falling  Waters. —  The  Invaders  Expelled  from  Free 
Soil.  June  19U  to  July  14th,  1863. 

The  disastrous  battle  of  Chancellorsville  had  been  fought 
and  Gen.  Lee  resolved  upon  a  grand  invasion  of  the  north 
ern  states.  His  intention  was  fairly  understood  in  the 
early  days  of  June.  It  now  became  necessary  to  concentrate 
as  large  a  force  as  possible  to  meet  and  drive  back  the  invad 
ers.  Consequently  General  Stahel's  cavalry  division  was 
detached  from  the  defenses  of  Washington,  to  be  incorpo 
rated  into  the  great  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

June  19^7i.  Orders  for  breaking  up  camp  were  received 
and  the  work  immediately  commenced.  Surplus  baggage, 
which  always  accumulates  during  winter  quarters,  was  put 
into  parcels  and  sent  to  our  northern  homes,  by  express,  or 
boxed  up  to  be  sent  to  Alexandria  for  storage,  under  the 
charge  of  the  quartermaster  of  that  post.  This  done,  our 
tents  were  soon  struck  and  sent  to  the  rear  with  the  baggage, 
and  we  were  left  to  bivouac  as  best  we  could,  until  the 


62  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

orders  to  march  should  be  received.  To  the  young  soldier 
this  was  a  new  era  in  military  life.  His  tent  now  is  bounded 
only  by  the  far  off  horizon,  and  covered  by  the  canopy  of 
heaven.  Rolled  up  in  his  woolen  blanket  or  rubber  poncho, 
having  sought  the  shelter  of  a  leafy  tree  (if  such  a  desirable 
spot  was  accessible),  he  lies  down  with  a  stone,  or,  perhaps, 
his  saddle  for  a  pillow,  while  his  faithful  horse  stands  as  a 
watchful  guardian  by  his  side.  It  is  often  the  case,  that  a 
cavalryman  has  nothing  to  hitch  his  horse  to  but  his  own  hand, 
and  though  the  animal  will  walk  all  around  him,  eating  the 
grass  as  far  as  he  can  reach,  yet  it  is  worthy  of  note,  that  an 
instance  can  scarcely  be  found  where  the  horse  has  been 
known  to  step  upon  his  master. 

June  2~Lst.  The  regiment  moved  with  the  division  about 
noon  on  the  Little  River  turnpike.  Passed  through  Cen- 
treville,  and  over  the  Bull  Run  battle  field,  the  aceldama 
of  America.  Evidences  of  the  terrible  conflict  of  the  past 
are  still  visible  on  every  hand.  Unexploded  shells  and 
pieces,  solid  shot,  broken  muskets,  and  remains  of  gun- 
carriages,  graves,  and  bones  of  unburied  heroes,  tell  their 
sad  stories  as  we  pass.  A  skull  is  kicked  along  by  the 
horses  as  they  move  over  the  muddy  way  !  No  one  seems  to 
care  much  about  it,  for  worse  sights  have  so  often  been 
seen  before. 

After  passing  through  Gainesville,  we  bivouacked  near 
Buckland  Mills. 

June  22d.  The  line  of  march  was  resumed  with  the 
early  sunlight,  passing  through  New  Baltimore,  and  arriv 
ing  at  the  beautiful  village  of  Warrenton  about  noon.  No 
force  of  the  enemy  was  here  encountered,  as  had  been 
expected.  Small  scouting  parties  were  sent  out  in  various 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  63 

directions,  and  the  division  bivouacked  for  the  afternoon  and 
night  in  the  fields  adjacent  to  the  town. 

June  23d.  Journeyed  back  to.  Fairfax  Court  House  after 
making  quite  a  halt  at  Gainesville  to  issue  rations,  and  rest 
our  animals.  It  was  after  midnight  when  we  arrived. 

June.  24:th.  Division  moved  about  3  p.  M.  toward  Lees- 
burg,  stopping  for  the  night  about  one  mile  beyond  Draines- 
ville. 

Jane  25th.  The  march  was  resumed  at  an  early  hour. 
A  little  beyond  Broad  Run  the  column  turned  to  the  right, 
striking  the  Potomac  a  little  below  Edward's  Ferry,  where 
we  forded.  On  reaching  the  Maryland  shore,  the  3d  brig 
ade  with  a  section  of  the  9th  Michigan  battery  and  one 
brigade  of  infantry,  was  sent  to  Poolsville,  and  thence  by 
Mouocacy  Ford  to  Licksville,  where  we  bivouacked. 

June  2Qth.  This  force  moved  on  to  Adamstown,  Jefferson, 
Birkinsville,  through  Crampton's  Gap,  where  the  infantry 
and  artillery  remained,  though  the  cavalry  moved  on  near 
Ehorersville,  where  we  spent  the  night. 

June  27th.  The  brigade  moved  at.4  p.  M.  to  Birkinsville, 
Middletown,  Frederick  City,  and  three  miles  and  a  half 
north  on  the  Emmettsburgh  road,  where  we  bivouacked 
with  the  remainder  of  the  division,  at  daybreak. 

June  2Sth.  Gen.  Pleasanton  reviewed  the  division,  and 
reorganized  the  entire  force.  We  are  now  the  Third 
Division  of  the  Cavalry  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with 
the  gallant  Kilpatrick  in  command.  The  first  brigade 
consists  of  the  1st  Vermont,  1st  Virginia,  18th  Pennsylva 
nia  and  5th  New  York,  Brig.  Gen.  Farnsworth  command 
ing.  Brig.  Gen.  Custer  commands  the  2d  brigade,  com 
posed  of  Michigan  regiments. 


64  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Gen.  Buford  commands  the  first  division  and  Gen.  Gregg 
the  second  division ;  the  whole  force  forming  the  most 
efficient  cavalry  corps  ever  organized  on  this  continent. 
To-day  Gen.  Meade  superseded  Gen.  Hooker  in  the  com 
mand  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomnc. 

June  29th.  At  10  A.  M.,  with  its  new  commander,  the 
division  moved  to  Pennsylvania,  passing  through  Walkers- 
villc,  Woodsboro',  Ladiesville,  Mechanicsville,  Tan ey town, 
and  finally  Littlestown,  Pa.,  where  we  were  received  with- 
the  greatest  demonstrations  of  joy  by  the  people.  A  large 
group  of  children,  on  the  balcony  of  a  hotel,  waving  hand 
kerchiefs  and  flags,  greeted  us  with  patriotic  songs,  while 
the  men  made  the  welkin  ring  with  their  cheers.  How 
different  was  such  reception  from  that  we  had  been  accus 
tomed  to  have  given  us  by  the  inhabitants  of  Virginian 
villages ! 

June  30^L  The  column  moved  early  to  Hanover,  where 
we  were  again  enthusiastically  received  by  the  citizens,  who 
furnished  refreshments  liberally  to  the  troopers,  as  each  regi 
ment  entered  and  passed  through  the  town.  This  enjoyable 
state  of  things  continued  until  about  10  o'clock ;  and  while 
the  Fifth  was  receiving  the  attentions  of  the  people,  the 
sudden  report  of  a  cannon  was  heard  from  one  of  the  neigh 
boring  hills.  At  first  this  was  taken  as  a  friendly  salute 
for  our  troops,  but  the  deception  was  soon  removed  by  a 
fierce  charge  of  Rebel  cavalry  under  immediate  command  of 
Gen.  Stuart,  upon  the  unsuspecting  column  in  the  street, 
sending  terror  to  the  people,  especially  to  the  ladies  and  chil 
dren,  who  were  paying  their  compliments  to  their  defenders. 
With  his  accustomed  coolness  and  bravery,  Maj.  Hammond, 
in  command  of  the  regiment,  quickly  withdrew  from  the 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  65 

street  to  the  open  field  near  the  rail  road  depot,  ordered  the 
boys  into  line  and  led  the  charge  upon  the  Rebels,  who 
then  possessed  the  lowii.  The  charging  columns  met  on 
Frederick  street,  where  a  hand  to  hand  conflict  ensued. 
For  a  few  moments  the  enemy  made  heroic  resistance,  but 
finally  broke  and  fled,  closely  pursued  by  our  men.  They 
rallied  again  and  again  but  were  met  with  irresistible  onsets, 
which  finally  compelled  them  to  retire  behind  the  hills 
under  cover  of  their  guns. 

In  less  than  fifteen  minutes  from  the  time  the  Rebels 
charged  the  town,  they  were  all  driven  from  it,  and  were 
skulking  in  the  wheat  fields  and  among  the  hills  of  the 
vicinity.  The  dead  and  wounded  of  both  parties,  with  many 
horses,  lay  scattered  here  and  there  ahmg  the  streets,  so 
covered  with  blood  and  dust  as  to  render  identification  in 
many  cases  tery  difficult.  Meanwhile,  Gen.  Kilpatrick, 
who  was  several  miles  beyond  the  town,  at  the  head  of  the 
column,  when  the  attack  was  made,  arrived  upon  the  field, 
and  took  personal  charge  of  the  movements.  These  were 
ordered  with  consummate  skill,  and  executed  with  prompt 
ness  and  success.  His  artillery,  well  posted  on  tta  hills  facing 
the  Rebels,  and  well  supported,  soon  silenced  the  guns  of 
the  enemy,  and  compelled  him  to  retire  in  the  direction  of 
Lee's  main  army.  He  left  not  less  than  25  dead  in  the 
streets  and  fields,  and  his  wounded  by  far  exceeded  this 
number.  We  captured  75  prisoners,  including  Lt.  Col. 
Payne,  who  commanded  a  brigade,  and  one  stand  of  colors, 
the  flag  of  the  13th  Virginia  cavalry.  This  was  the  trophy 
of  Sergt.  Burke,  Company  A.  Our  entire  loss  was  nine 
killed,  thirty-one  wounded  and  a  few  prisoners.  Among 
the  killed  was  Adjutant  Gall,  who  fell  while  gallantly 


66  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

charging  the  enemy  in  the  street.  The  fatal  ball  entered 
his  left  eye,  and  passed  through  his  head,  killing  him  in 
stantly. 

The  citizens  of  Hanover,  who  so  nobly  cared  for  our  wound 
ed  in  the  hospitals  during  and  after  the  battle,  and  assisted 
us  in  burying  the  dead,  will  long  remember  that  terrible 
last  day  of  June. 

The  brave  boys,  who  had  so  valiantly  defeated  the  enemy, 
though  taken  by  surprise,  built  their  bivouac  fires  and  spent 
the  night  on  the  field  of  their  recent  victory. 

July  1st.  At  11  A.  M.  the  1st  brigade  moved  to  Abbotts- 
town,  to  Berlin,  and  pursued  Rebel  cavalry  from  this  place 
to  Ilosetown,  capturing  several  prisoners,  and  returned  to 
Berlin  at  midnight* and  bivouacked. 

July  2d.  The  division  moved  to  within  two  miles  of 
Gettysburg,  thence  to  New  Oxford  and  Ilunterstown,  where 
we  fought  till  dark.  This  was  the  extreme  right  wing  of 
our  army,  while  engaged  in  that  great  conflict,  which  decid 
ed  the  fate  of  the  Rebellion  and  saved  the  Republic  from 
ruin. 

July  3cf.  During  last  night  we  moved  from  the  right  to 
the  left  flank  of  our  army,  about  2£  miles  from  Gettysburg, 
near  Little  Round  Top.  The  remaining  portion  of  the 
cavalry  corps  was  left  to  attend  to  Stuart  and  his  troopers, 
who  still  threatened  our  right.  Kilpatrick's  work  was  with 
infantry.  His  division,  however,  was  reenforced  by  Gen. 
Merritt's  regular  brigade  of  the  first  division.  About  10  A. 
M.  Kilpatrick  sent  out  his  skirmishers  upon  the  Rebel  right 
flank  and  rear.  The  design  was  to  create  a  panic,  if  possi 
ble,  and  force  the  enemy  back  upon  his  trains.  About  3 
p.  M.,  during  the  most  terrific  cannonade  ever  known  upon 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  67 

this  continent,  a  large  force  of  Rebel  infantry  was  seen 
advancing,  with  the  evident  intention  of  sweeping  away  the 
cavalry,  and  of  then  turning  our  position  on  Little  Round 
Top,  occupied  by  our  artillery  with  infantry  support.  To 
defeat  this  design  of  the  Rebel  chief,  became  Kilpatrick's  all 
animating  theme.  Quickly  making  the  best  possible  disposi 
tion  of  his  command,  he  ordered  Gen.  Farnsworth  to  charge 
these  serried  ranks,  which  must  be  broken.  Placing  the  Fifth 
New  York  in  support  of  Elder's  Battery,  which  was  exposed 
to  a  very  hot  fire,  and  ordering  the  First  Vermont,  First 
Virginia  and  Eighteenth  Pennsylvania,  into  line  of  battle, 
he  led  them  gallantly  on  to  the  unequal  contest. 

Though  this  charge  was  not  entirely  a  success,  its  well 
directed  blow  prevented  the  flank  movement,  which  prison 
ers  asserted,  was  the  intention  of  their  leader,  and  thus  the 
cavalry  added  another  dearly  earned  laurel  to  its  chaplet  of 
honor,  clearly  earned  because  many  of  her  bravest  champions 
fell  upon  that  bloody  field.  Gen.  Kilpatrick,  in  his  official 
report  of  this  sanguniary  conflict,  says:  "In  this  charge 
fell  the  brave  Farnsworth.  Short  and  brilliant  was  his 
career.  On  the  29th  of  June  a  general,  on  the  1st  of  July 
he  baptized  his  star  in  blood,  and  on  the  3d,  for  the  honor 
of  his  young  brigade  and  the  glory  of  his  corps,  he  yielded 
up  his  noble  life." 

During  this  charge  a  shell  passed  through  the  body  of 
Daniel  Hurley,  Company  C,  killed  a  horse,  and  afterward 
explode'd,  wounding  John  Buckley  of  the  same  company, 
and  several  others.  Elder's  battery  was  handled  with  his 
usual  skill,  and  with  wonderful  effect,  silencing  two  or  three 
times  a  Rebel  battery  that  could  not  be  seen,  a  thing  but 
very  seldom  accomplished. 


68  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Before  the  sun  went  down  on  that  day  of  carnage,  it  was 
evident  that  the  Union  arms  had  been  victorious,  after  three 
days'  almost  incessant  fighting,  and  our  tired  and  nearly 
worn-out  boys  that  night  rested  quietly  upon  the  fields  so 
dearly  won. 

July  4th.  Having  gathered  his  troopers  together,  Kilpat- 
rick  addressed  them  a  few  words  of  cheer,  assuring  them 
that  their  noble  deeds  would  not  be  passed  by  unrequited, 
and  that  he  trusted  their  future  conduct  would  be  but  a 
copy  of  the  past.  Having  received  orders  to  intercept  the 
Rebel  trains,  which  were  known  to  be  on  the  retreat  south 
ward,  the  whole  division  was  moved  to  Ernmettsburgh,  to 
Monterey  Springs  and  to  the  summit  of  the  South  Moun 
tains,  where  the  train  was  encountered,  passing  through  the 
gaps.  The  night  was  pitchy  dark,  and  the  rain  fell  fast, 
before  the  train  guards  were  met.  For  some  time  they 
kept  up  a  desultory  fire  upon  us,  but  finally  yielding  to 
our  superior  skill  and  determination,  a  train  of  200  wagons, 
mostly  loaded  with  plunder  from  the  stores  and  granaries 
of  Pennsylvania,  fell  into  our  hands,  and  about  1,500 
prisoners,  among  whom  were  several  wounded.  Most  of 
the  wagons  were  destroyed. 

July  bth.  Moved  to  Smithburg  about  8  A.  M.,  and  sent 
the  prisoners  to  Boonsboro'.  About  sundown  we  shelled  the 
forces  of  Gen.  Stuart  approaching  us  from  the  mountain 
passes.  This  done,  we  marched  to  Cavetown,  and  thence  to 
Boonsboro',  where  we  bivouacked  and  rested. 

July  6th.  Moved  -to  Hagerstown  and  held  the  place  in 
advance  of  Gen.  Stuart.  His  approach  was  met  with  deter 
mined  resistance,  and  a  heavy  battle  wjvs  the  result.  Had 
not  Gen.  Ewell's  corps  come  down  upon  us  we  could  have 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  GO 

managed  the  cavalry  alone,  though  they  were  compelled  to 
fight  desperately,  as  this  was  their  only  way  of  retreat.  Charges 
and  counter-charges  were  frequent  during  the  day.  One 
reporter  says,  "  Elder  gave  them  grape  and  canister,  and 
the  Fifth  New  York  sabres,  while  the  First  Vermont  used 
their  carbines." 

In  one  of  these  charges,  made  in  the  face  of  a  very 
superior  force,  Capt.  Penfield,  at  the  head  of  his  company 
(H),  had  his  horse  shot  down  under  him,  and,  while  strug 
gling  to  extricate  himself  from  -the  animal,  was  struck  a 
fearful  blow  of  a  sabre  on  the  head,  which  came  near 
proving  fatal.  Thus  wounded,  with  the  blood  running  down 
upon  his  long  beard  and  clothes,  he  was  made  a  prisoner. 
It  was  here  the  gallant  Captain  Dahlgren  lost  his  leg 
while  leading  a  charge. 

Before  the  heavy  infantry  force  which  was  now  attacking 
us,  we  retreated  to  Williamsport,  fighting  all  the  way. 
From  Williamsport,  having  joined  Gen.  Buford,  we  fell 
back  to  Timball's  Cross  Roads. 

July  1th.  The  division  moved  to  Boonsboro'  and  bivou 
acked. 

July  Sth.  The  Rebel  cavalry  under  Gen.  Stuart,  supported 
by  Hood's  infantry,  attacked  our  pickets  along  the  Antietam 
Creek,  and  drove  them  in  with  some  confusion. 

About  noon  a  furious  battle  was  raging  near  Boonsboro'. 
Buford  and  Kilpatrick  united  their  respective  divisions  in 
the  work  of  repelling  this  attack.  Over  the  broad  plains, 
it  was  a  splendid  sight  to  witness  the  manrouvrings  of 
these  cavalry  chiefs.  The  struggle  was  desperate  —  Stuart 
fighting  for^the  safety  of  the  Rebel  army,  and  our  boys  for 
the  South  Mountain  pass.  About  sundown,  after  a  brief  con- 


TO  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

sultation  between  Duford  and  Kilpatrick,  their  bugles  were 
ringing  with  the  order  for  a  concentrated  and  united  charge; 
and  with  a  wild  shout  those  invincible  squadrons  fell  upon 
the  enemy,  driving  his  broken  lines  from  the  field,  which 
he  left  strewn  with  his  dead  and  dying.  With  the  laurels 
of  another  glorious  victory,  our  boys  returned  to  their 
bivouac,  and  sought  the  repose  they  had  so  well  earned. 

After  the  battle  Col.  De  Forest  assumed  command  of 
the  brigade. 

July  10*7*.  The  regiment  moved  to  Jonathan  Doub's 
house  and  bivouacked.  . 

July  \\tli.  We  moved  out  two  miles,  drove  in  the  enemy's 
pickets,  and  returned  to  our  bivouac. 

July  12th.  Gen.  Kilpatrick  moved  his  division  to  Hagers- 
tuwn,  and,  after  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  occupied  the 
place. 

July  14*7i.  At  4  A.  M.  the  division  moved  in  pursuit  of 
the  retreating  Rebel  army,  which,  it  was  ascertained,  was 
crossing  the  Potomac  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  third 
division  swept  away  what  vestiges  of  it  remained  at  Wil- 
liamsport,  and,  following  it  down  the  river,  struck  the  rear 
guard,  under  Gen.  Pettigrew,  at  Falling  Waters.  The 
battle  was  short,  but  disastrous  to  the  Rebels.  Many  a 
poor  fellow  never  gained  the  long  looked-for  Virginia  shore. 
One  brigade  of  infantry,  two  battle  flags,  and  two  pieces  of 
artillery  fell  into  our  hands.  Gen.  Pettigrew  was  mortally 
wounded.  In  the  charge  made  upon  the  Rebel. earth  works, 
constructed  to  protect  this .  important  crossing,  the  6th 
Michigan  cavalry,  .Major  Weber  commanding,  covered 
itself  with  immortal  honor.  By  the  boldness  of  their 
charge,  and  by  the  destructive  fire  of  Pennington's  battery, 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  71 

these  remains  of  the  once  boastful  invading  army,  were 
made  to  feel  that  they  could  fight  us  at  much  better  advan 
tage  upon  their  own  soil  than  upon  ours. 

As  the  last  foot  of  the  invaders  disappeared  on  the 
southern  shore  of  the  Potomac,  our  boys  built  their  bivouac 
fires  and  rested  themselves  and  their  weary  animals  near  the 
scene  of  their  victory 


CHAPTER  VI 

Lee's  Invasion,  a  great  Failure. —  He  is  not  Pursued  very  Vigor 
ously. —  Reasons  Why. —  We  Recross  tlie  Potomac. —  The  Gun- 
Boat  Expedition. —  Battle  of  Culpepper  Court  House. —  Lee 
flanks  Meade. —  We  Retreat  from  the  Robertson  and  Rapidan 
Rivers. —  Kilpatrick  Surrrounded  at  Brandy  Station. —  His 
Brilliant  Charge. —  Battle  of  Buckland  Mills. —  The  Armies 
Swing  like  Pendulums. —  Skirmish  at  Stevensburg. —  Several 
Days'  Fighting  at  Raccoon  Ford. — Change  is  the  Soldier's  Life. — 
Excitement  about  RePnlisting  as  Veteran  Volunteers.  — Build 
ing  Winter  Quarters. —  July  15th  to  December  31st,  1863. 

The  enemy  was  now  fairly  expelled  from  the  free  states 
which  he  had  insolently  entered  a  few  days  before.  His 
losses  had  been  immense  in  men  and  material  of  war.  He 
had  failed  in  every  important  minutiae  of  his  plan.  Instead 
of  weakening  the  Union  cause  as  he  fondly  hoped  by  the 
pomp  and  promise  of  his  entry  into  Maryland,  he  had 
increased  our  numbers  and  strengthened  our  hands  in  the 
good  work.  He  was  now  returning  to  his  own  place,  with  a 
demoralized  and  beaten  army,  whose  ranks  had  been  thinned 
by  desertions  and  by  unprecedented  casualties  in  battle.  He 
had  barely  escaped  annihilation.  To  pursue  him  as  closely 
as  possible,  harrass  his  rear  and  do  him  all  further  damage 
in  our  power,  was  the  course  adopted  by  the  commanding 
general }  the  main  body  of  the  Kebel  army  escaping  as 
best  it  could  through  the  valley  towards  Staunton  and 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  73 

Gordonsville,  their  cavalry  meanwhile  taking  possession  of 
the  gaps  in  the  Blue  Ridge  to  prevent  flank  movements. 
Our  pursuit  was  not  as  vigorous  as  it  would  seem  it  might 
have' been.  But  it  must  be  remembered  that  our  infantry 
had  made  many  forced  marches,  describing  in  its  route  a 
line  resembling  the  circumference  of  a  circle,  while  that  of 
the  Rebel  army  was  like  the  diameter.  Our  cavalry  had 
not  only  defeated  the  Rebel  cavalry  in  many  battles  and 
skirmishes,  but  it  had  met  the  solid  columns  of  their  infantry 
also,  as  at  Gettysburg.  Consequently  our  movements  were 
not  as  rapid  as  they  might  otherwise  have  been,  owing  to 
the  fatigue  of  our  men. 

July  15M.  The  division  moved  up  the  river  to  Williams- 
port,  swung  around  to  Hagerstown,  and  bivouacked  for  the 
night  at  Boonsboro';  men  and  horses  came  to  their  rest  with 
a  wonderful  relish. 

July  IQth.  "Boots  and  saddles"  at  an  early  hour,  and 
the  whole  division  was  soon  in  the  saddle,  where  we  might 
be  said  to  live,  move,  and  have  our  being^  and  we  were  again 
on  the  march.  We  revisited  Rhorersville,  recrossed  Cramp- 
ton's  Gap,  and  bivouacked  near  the  Potomac  at  Berlin. 
Before  night  the  first  brigade  moved  to  Harper's  Ferry  and 
bivouacked  in  the  yard  of  the  ruined  arsenal. 

July  \.lth.  This  morning  we  crossed  the  Shenandoah  on 
the  new  wire  bridge,  passed  around  the  foot  of  Loudon 
Heights,  and  followed  the  Potomac  to  opposite  Berlin, 
where  we  were  joined  by  the  second  brigade,  which  crossed 
on  pontoons.  The  division  then  moved  to  Lovettsville, 
Wheatland,  Purcelville,  Va.,  and  halted  for  the  night. 

July  19M.  The  division  moved  to  the  following  places  : — 


74  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Snickersville.  Bloomfield  and  Upperville,  where  we  stopped 
and  rested. 

July  20th.  The  5th  and  6th  Michigan,  with  the  5th  New 
York,  under  Col.  Town,  of  the  1st  Michigan,  marched  to 
Ashby's  Gap,  expelled  therefrom  a  force  of  the  enemy, 
after  a  brief  skirmish,  and  occupied  the  Gap.  The  Fifth 
New  York  returned  to  Upperville.  From  this  time  until 
September,  the  headquarters  of  the  third  division  were 
near  Warrenton,  while  picketing  was  performed  by  the 
regiments  in  rotation,  along  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock, 
opposed  to  Stuart's  cavalry,  whose  headquarters  were  at 
Culpepper. 

September  4th.  To  break  the  monotony  of  picketing,  and 
to  subserve  the  cause,  a  most  novel  scheme  was  uow  under 
taken,  known  as  Kilpatrick's  Gun-boat  Expedition.  The 
object  was  to  destroy  a  part. of  the  Rebel  navy  (?)  anchored 
in  the  Rappahannock,  near  Port  Conway,  opposite  Port 
Royal.  This  peculiar  warfare,  which  required  dash  .and 
boldness,  was  waged  by  the  troopers  with  complete  success, 
and  they  returned  to  their  old  bivouac  fires,  to  enliven  the 
weary  hours  with  stories  of  the  long  march  down  the  river, 
and  their  successful  attack  upon  the  gun-boats  of  the  enemy. 

September  loth.  A  grand  advance  of  the  Union  army 
had  been  ordered  by  its  chief,  in  which  the  cavalry  was  to 
take  a  prominent  part.  Accordingly,  at  an  early  hour, 
Gen.  Pleasantou  moved  his  corps,  crossing  the  Rappahan 
nock  with  Gregg's  division  at  Sulphur  Springs,  Buford's  at 
Rappahannock  Bridge  and  Kilpatrick's  at  Kelly's  Ford. 
The  enemy's  pickets  were  easily  driven  before  this  mighty 
host,  and  dispositions  were  made  to  attack  Stuart  at  Culpep 
per,  a  naturally  strong  and  fortified  position.  Pleasanton. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  77 

with  the  first  and  second  divisions,  moved  directly  on 
the  enemy  from  Brandy  Station,  where  they  had  concen 
trated.  Over  the  plains  they  moved  on,  sweeping  every 
thing  before  them,  until  within  a  mile  of  the  town,  where 
they  were  checked  by  the  stubborn  and  determined  resist 
ance  of  the  Rebels.  Not  long  had  this  equal  contest  con 
tinued,  when  Kilpatrick's  artillery  was  heard  thundering  in 
the  enemy's  right  flank  and  rear,  on  the  road  from  Stevens- 
burg,  whither  he  had  led  his  swift  squadrons.  Under  this 
well  directed  fire  the  enemy  fell  back  into  the  town;  and, 
before  he  had  time  to  reform  his  broken  line,  and  in  spite 
of  a  heavy  fire  from  his  artillery,  the  Fifth  Xew  York  and 
First  Vermont,  with  detachments  from  other  regiments, 
charged  into  the  streets  of  the  town,  capturing  three 
Blakely  guns,  and  throwing  the  boast  of  the  chivalry  into  a 
perfect  rout.  They  hastily  retreated  in  the  direction  of 
Pony  Mountain  and  Rapidan  Bridge,  whither  they  were 
pursued  closely  by  our  victorious  boys.  Several  prisoners 
fell  into  our  hands.  The  way  having  thus  been  prepared, 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  advanced  across  the  Rappahan- 
nock.  Gen.  Meade  making  his  headquarters  at  Culpepper. 

September  14^7t.  The  cavalry  advanced  and  took  posses 
sion  of  the  fords  along  the  Rapidan  and  the  Robertson 
rivers.  This  was  not  done  without  opposition,  the  enemy 
defending  these  important  crossings  with  vigor  and  perti 
nacity.  The  regiment  encountered  a  tremendous  shelling 
at  Somerville  Ford,  on  the  Robertson. 

September  2'2d.  While  on  a  reconnoissance  in  Madison 
County,  the  regiment  had  quite  a  skirmish  at  Brookin's 
Ford,  on  the  Rapidan. 

September  2bth.  A  detachment  of  the  regiment.  Captain 


78  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Farley  commanding,  while  on  a  scout,  encountered  a  con 
siderable  force  of  the  enemy  at.  Hazel  River  Bridge,  and  a 
sharp  skirmish  ensued. 

October  8th.  The  regiment  reconnoitred  along  tho  Rob 
ertson  river,  and  met  the  enemy  at  Ceighrsville,  where  a 
short  fight  followed,  resulting  in  the  retreat  of  the  enemy 
across  the  river. 

While  we  were  thus  picketing  and  scouting  along  these 
streams,  living  sumptuously  on  a  country  that  had  not  yet  been 
impoverished  by  the  march  of  armies,  Gen.  Lee,  whose  army 
lay  mostly  south  of  the  Rapidan,  crossed  the  river,  moved 
to  Mtidison  Court  House,  and  by  a  rapid  flank  movement  on 
our  right,  compelled  us  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  which  was  con 
tinued  until  Gen.  Meade's  main  army  occupied  the  heights 
of  Centreville. 

October  10/A  In  the  early  morning  a  heavy  force  of  the 
enemy  came  down  upon  the  regiment,  picketing  along  the 
Robertson  river,  at  Russell's  Ford.  The  flank  movement  of 
the  enemy  was  discovered  and  quick  work  was  required. 
Swift  messengers  from  officers  in  high  command  brought 
orders  to  retire  with  promptness,  but  in  good  order,  if  possi 
ble.  Our  men,  in  many  instances,  were  compelled  to  leave 
their  palatable  breakfasts  of  roast  lamb,  sweet  potatoes,  fine 
wheat  bread,  milk  and  honey,  &c.,  with  which  the  country 
abounded,  and  to  attend  to  the  stern  and  always  unpleasant 
duties  of  a  retreat,  with  the  enemy  pressing  heavily  upon 
us.  A  sharp  skirmish  had  taken  place  at  the  ford,  which 
was  continued  at  intervals  on  our  march  to  James  City, 
where  a  battle  raged  with  fury  and  slaughter.  Though 
engaged  for  many  hours  during  the  day  the  casualties  of  the 
regiment  were  not  very  great. 


FIFTH  KEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  79 

October  ll/7t.  Skirmishing  was  continued  to-day  at  almost 
every  step  of  our  march.  On  the  Sperryville  pike  to  Cul- 
pepper,  the  enemy  pressed  us  closely.  From  this  point  the 
cavalry  corps  separated,  Gregg  with  his  division,  falling 
back  by  way  of  Sulphur  Springs,  Buford  by  Stevensburg, 
leaving  Kilpatrick  on  the  main  thoroughfare  along  the  rail 
road  by  Brandy  Station.  Scarcely  had  Kilpatrick  moved 
out  of  Culpepper,  when  Hampton's  division  of  cavalry  made 
a  furious  attack  on  his  rear  guard  with  the  hope  of  breaking 
through  upon  the  main  column  and  scattering  it,  or  of 
retarding  its  progress,  so  that  a  flanking  column  might  fall 
upon  him  ere  he  could  reach  the  safe  shore  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock.  Gallantly  repelling  every  attack  the  command 
moved  on,  without  expending  much  of  its  time  or  material, 
until  opposite  the  residence  of  the  Hon.  John  Minor  Botts, 
when  a  few  regiments,  including  the  Fifth  New  York,  sud 
denly  wheeled  about,  and  facing  the  pursuing  foe,  charged 
him  with  pistol  and  sabre,  thus  checking  his  advancing  lines. 
On  arriving  at  Brandy  Station  Kilpatrick  found  his  com 
mand  to  be  in  a  most  critical  situation. 

Already  Gen.  Fitzhugh  Lee's  division  of  cavalry  held  the 
only  road  upon  which  it  was  possible  for  Kilpatrick  to 
advance.  Stuart,  with  a  portion  of  Lee's  and  Hampton's  forces, 
threatened  his  left  flank,  assisted  by  artillery  well  posted  on 
the  hills.  Behind  him  were  Hampton's  Legions.  Buford, 
having  fallen  back  more  rapidly  than  Kilpatrick,  had  before 
passed  on  toward  the  Rappahannock,  leaving  his  right  flank 
perfectly  exposed,  where  sharpshooters  were  already  making 
themselves  a  source  of  great  annoyance  from  the  woods. 

This  was  a  situation  to  try  the  stoutest  hearts.  Nothing 
daunted  by  this  formidable  disposition  «jf  an  enemy  very 


80  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

superior  in  numbers,  Kilpatrick  showed  himself  worthy  to 
command  the  brave  men  who  composed  his  division.  Form 
ing  his  force  in  three  lines  of  battle,  assigning  the  right  to 
Gen.  Davies,  the  left  to  Gen.  Custer,  and  placing  himself 
in  the  centre,  he  advanced  with  terrible  determination  to  the 
contest.  Having  approached  to  within  a  few  hundred  yards 
of  the  enemy's  lines,  his  band  was  ordered  to  strike  up 
Yankee  Doodle,  to  whose  inspiring  notes  was  added  the 
blast  of  scores  of  bugles,  ringing  forth  the  charge.  Fired 
with  a  sort  of  frenzy,  and  bearing  aloft  their  colors,  this 
band  of  heroic  troopers  shook  the  air  with  their  battle  cry, 
while  their  drawn  and  firmly  grasped  sabres  flashed  in  the 
light  of  the  declining  sun.  Gen.  Custer,  pulling  off  his  cap, 
gave  it  to  his  orderly,  and  thus  led  on  the  charge,  while  his 
yellow  locks  floated  on  the  breeze.  Ambulances,  forges  and 
cannon,  with  pack  trains,  non-combatants  and  others,  all 
joined  to  swell  the  on-flowing  tide,  before  which  the  Rebel 
lines  broke  in  wild  alarm.  Kilpatrick  thus  escaped  serious 
injury,  defeated  his  pursuers,  and  presented  to  the  beholders 
one  of  the  grandest  sights  ever  witnessed  in  the  New 
World. 

His  division  soon  after  joined  that  of  Buford,  and  together 
they  engaged  the  enemy  in  a  series  of  brilliant  charges,  which 
materially  checked  his  advance.  At  night  they  recrossed 
the  Rappahannock  in  safety. 

The  cavalry  continued  its  retreat,  covering  the  rear  of 
the  infantry,  to  the  old  field  of  Bull  Run,  where  it  was 
expected  a  third  battle  would  be  fought.  One  night,  while 
the  regiment  lay  bivouacked  near  Bristoe  Station,  a  caisson 
was  accidently  set  on  fire,  causing  a  rapid  explosion  of  the 
ammunition  it  contained.  The  consequence  was  a  wide- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  83 

spread  alarm,  which  brought  every  cavalryman  to  his  horse, 
ready  to  meet  the  foe,  who  was  supposed  to  have  made  a 
powerful  attack. 

October  IQth.  The  regiment  was  sent  to  test  the  Eebel 
pickets  at  Groveton,  with  whom  we  had  a  slight  skirmish. 

October  Yitli.     The  work  of  yesterday  was  repeated. 

October  ISth.  A  third  time  the  regiment  skirmished 
with  the  pickets  at  Groveton  and  advanced  to  Gainesville. 

October  19th.  The  Kebel  army  having  spent  its  time 
in  tearing  up  and  destroying  the  rail  road,  refusing  to 
attack,  Gen.  Meade  ordered  a  general  advance.  Kilpat- 
rick  marched  through  Grovetou  and  Gainesville,  meeting 
the  enemy  in  overwhelming  force  at  Buckland  Mills.  Had 
it  not  been  for  great  skill  and  daring  his  entire  command 
would  have  been  annihilated.  As  it  was,  he  narrowly 
escaped,  saving  all  his  guns,  but  leaving  some  of  his  men 
in  the  enemy's  hands. 

Before  our  advancing  army,  Gen.  Lee  gradually  retreated, 
receiving  a  terrible  shock  at  Rappahannock  Station,  which 
sent  the  remains  of  his  army  across  the  Rappahunnock. 
It  is  quite  singular  to  remark  how  these  great  armies  have 
been  swinging  like  huge  pendulums  during  the  present 
season.  In  June  they  swung  from  the  Rappahannock,  Va., 
to  the  Susquehanna,  Penn.;  then  back  to  the  Rapidan ; 
afterward  almost  to  the  Potomac,  then  back  to  the  Rapidan 
again.  It  is  eneouraging  to  notice  that  the  swing  of  the 
Rebel  army  toward  the  north,  shortens  at  every  move, 
giving  indications  of  its  waning  power. 

In  the  early  part  of  November  our  army  laid  its  pontoons 
across  the  Rappahannock,  and  advanced  upon  the  enemy, 
driving  him  from  the  line  he  had  selected  for  his  winter 


84  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

quarters.  Many  of  their  huts,  already  completed,  fell  into 
our  hands. 

November  8th.  The  regiment  had  a  spirited  skirmish 
with  the  enemy,  in  driving  him  from  Stevensburg. 

From  a  correspondent  of  a  New  York  daily,  we  quote  the 
following  description  of  this  affair.  "I  must  be  allowed  to 
mention,  that  Kilpatrick's  division,  or  rather  Davies'  brig 
ade  of  that  division,  was  engaged  in  quite  a  brisk  encounter 
with  Haniptun's  division  of  llebel  cavalry,  on  Sunday  the 
8th  inst.,  in  the  vicinity  of  Stevensburg.  I  allude  to  it 
here,  because,  as  yet,  it  has  scarcely  been  noticed  at  all  in 
any  papers  that  I  am  aware  of,  although  it  was  one  of  the 
most  spirited  and  handsomely  managed  affairs  that  has 
occurred  during  the  late  movements.  There  was  no  very 
severe  fighting,  it  is  true,  but  the  ease  with  which  the 
enemy  was  driven  from  his  position,  and  the  short  duration 
of  the  fight,  were  mainly  attributable  to  the  adroitness  used 
in  the  disposition  of  our  forces,  and  the  intense  eagerness 
and  animation  with  which  our  men  went  up  to  the  attack. 
A  battery  of  the  enemy  which  occupied  a  commanding 
position  at  Stevensburg,  right  in  the  line  of  our  advance, 
was  started  off  at  a  double  quick,  almost  without  firing  a 
shot,  by  sending  a  regiment  round  to  the  right,  which  came 
in  upon  it  from  an  unexpected  quarter,  and  threw  the  gun 
ners  into  instant  alarm  for  the  safety  of  their  guns;  and 
when  they  had  taken  up  a  new  position  find  were  busily 
shelling  our  troops  coming  up  in  front,  Major  Hammond, 
commanding  the  regiment  just  mentioned,  with  about 
twenty  of  his  men,  again  compelled  them  to  decamp  by 
coming  up  under  cover  and  unseen  to  within  easy  carbine 
range  of  them,  and  thus  picking  off  the  artillerists." 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  85 

The  regiment  camped  among  the  pines,  whence  they  had 
driven  the  enemy. 

November  17th.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  picket 
along  the  Rapidan,  extending  our  videttes  from  Morton's 
Ford  near  to  Germania. 

November  I8th.  A  squad  of  Hampton's  cavalry,  dressed 
in  our  overcoats,  surprised  and  attacked  the  18th  Pennsylva 
nia,  near  Germania  Ford,  capturing  many  prisoners,  and  their 
headquarters  wagon.  Capt.  McGuinn,  Company  A,  in  charge 
of  the  nearest  reserve,  assisted  in  beating  back  the  Rebels, 
who  fled  across  the  river. 

November  2lst.  The  paymaster  appeared  with  his  green 
backs,  and  though  the  rain  has  fallen  almost  incessantly 
none  have  been  heard  to  murmur.  Whatever  trouble  or 
difficulty  the  soldier  has,  pay-day  is  sure  to  take  it  all 
away — at  least  if  his  accounts  are  all  right. 

November  22d.  The  men  are  sending  their  money  home 
to  their  friends.  Some  foolishly  squander  theirs  away,  but 
most  men  of  the  regiment  put  a  proper  estimate  on  their 
earnings. 

November  24^.  A  grand  movement  of  the  army  toward 
the  Rapidan  was  commenced,  at  an  early  hour.  Our  divi 
sion  moved  toward  Raccoon  Ford.  A  heavy  rain  having 
set  in,  the  troops  were  countermarched  to  their  wet 
bivouacs. 

November  26th.  The  movement  commenced  and  aban 
doned  on  the  24th  was  to-day  resumed.  Gen.  Meade, 
desiring  to  cross  his  main  force  at  Germania  Ford,  ordered 
the  cavalry  to  attack  the  Rebel  lines  along  the  upper  fords, 
and,  if  possible,  compel  them  to  busy  themselves  with  us. 
Our  division  broke  camp  early,  and  reached  the  river  about 


86  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

nine  o'clock  at  Morton's  Ford.  The  fortifications  on  the 
high  hills  along  the  river  swarmed  with  Rebels.  They 
opened  their  heavy  batteries  upon  us.  The  division  moved 
up  the  river  toward  Ilaccoon  Ford,  most  of  the  time 
exposed  to  the  artillery  fire.  Shells  fell  fast  near  the  solid 
column,  spattering  mud  all  over  our  Thanksgiving  suits, 
for  this  was  Thanksgiving  day.  Our  flying  artillery  occa 
sionally  replied.  -This  artillery  duel  was  continued  all  the 
day,  and  yet  not  a  man  was  injured.  How  wonderful  is 
the  preservation  of  human  life  on  occasions  like  this !  At 
night  we  bivouacked  in  the  woods  about  a  mile  from  the 
ford.  The  ground  was  wet  and  the  weather  cold,  and  we 
were  compelled  to  make  fires  sparingly,  lest  the  enemy 
might  discover  our  position,  and  give  us  a  Thanksgiving 
supper  of  shells,  as  he  had  done  for  our  dinner. 

November  21th.  Early  in  the  morning  the  division 
crossed  the  river  at  Ilaccoon  Ford,  having  discovered  that 
the  enemy  had  abandoned  his  works  in  the  night.  Fitz- 
hugh  Lee's  cavalry,  however,  was  encountered  approaching 
at  no  great  distance  from  the  river,  compelling  our  boys  to 
return  after  a  sharp  skirmish. 

November  SQth.  We  still  continue  by  the  river,  exchang 
ing  occasional  shots,  and  sometimes  volleys,  with  the  pickets 
on  the  other  side.  Now  and  then  the  batteries  open. 
Just  before  sundown  the  Rebels  saluted  us  with  a  rapid 
shelling,  which  made  the  woods  and  hills  resound.  We 
bivouac  among  the  pines,  when  off  duty,  where  moss  is 
plentiful  for  our  carpets.  Our  fare  would  be  quite  pleasant 
if  it  were  not  for  the  biting  frosts  of  the  nights. 

December  2d.  Gen.  Meade  is  returning  from  his  unsuc 
cessful  affair  in  the  wilderness  about  Mine  Run.  His 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  87 

expedition  has  been  attended  with  great  fatigue  and  suffer 
ing,  and  some  losses. 

December  3d.  As  was  expected,  we  were  relieved  from 
this  position  and  taken  back  to  our  old  camps,  near  Stevens- 
burg.  Our  camp  began  to  assume  a  delightful  appearance, 
with  its  rows  of  shelter  tents,  and  an  occasional  wall  tent, 
when  about  3  p.  M.  the  woods  were  ringing  with  bugles, 
sounding  u  boots  and  saddles/'  Tents  were  taken  down, 
and  the  brigade  moved  out  in  the  direction  of  the  river  to 
meet  the  enemy,  who  was  supposed  to  be  crossing  the  river 
to  attack  us  in  heavy  force.  It  proved  to  be  a  fright  of  the 
pickets  stationed  along  the  river.  We  were  soon  back  in 
our  old  spot  again,  putting  up  our  shelters. 

Change  is  the  soldier's  life.  It  marks  his  daily  experi 
ence.  Now  he  lies  securely  in  his  wood-surrounded  home, 
then  he  revels  in  the  pomp  and  terror  of  the  battle ;  now 
he  suffers  from  the  long  march  or  the  extra  duty,  then  he 
grows  weary  with  long  waiting  and  anxious  fears.  His  life 
is  a  moving  panorama,  which  presents  every  shade  of  color 
ing,  and  every  phase  of  human  experience. 

December  ^th.  Quite  an  excitement  was  created  among 
the  men,  by  an  effort  made  to  ascertain  what  number  of 
them  are  willing  to  reenlist  under  the  orders  recently  issued 
by  the  War  Department,  respecting  Veteran  Volunteers. 

A  large  majority  of  the  men  present  are  ready  to  reenlist 
for  a  new  term  of  service.  Though  they  have  seen  hard 
service,  and  long,  they  are  unwilling  to  return  to  the  quiet 
pursuits  of  civil  life  while  the  conflict  goes  on.  They  want 
to  join  in  the  last  conflict  and  to  swell  the  final  shout  of 
victory,  over  the  downfall  of  this  Rebellion.  Every  one 
appears  to  be  in  the  best  of  spirits. 


88  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

December  5th.  A  large  mail  was  received,  after  a  sus 
pension  of  several  days.  These  are  always  occasions  of  great 
rejoicing,  in  camp  life.  Our  mail  bags  are  great  instruments 
of  power. 

December  Sth.  A  large  detail  of  the  regiment  went  out 
on  picket  to  the  Rapidan.  A  squad  of  eighteen  recruits  for 
the  regiment  was  received  this  evening. 

December  15//i.  Our  boys  on  picket  near  Germania  Ford 
are  becoming  quite  familiar  with  Rebel  pickets  on  the  other 
side  the  river.  Papers  are  exchanged,  coffee  is  given  for 
tobacco }  and  visits  of  the  Rebels  among  us,  and  of  our  boys 
among  them,  are  quite  frequent. 

December  17th.  A  cold,  freezing  rain  has  fallen  all  day; 
arid  the  men,  wet,  cold,  hungry  and  tired,  returned  from 
picket.  The  pines  were  lighted  up  with  the  lurid  light 
of  our  fires  at  night. 

December  ~L8th.  Moved  camp  to  the  hill  known  in  this 
region  as  The  Devil's  Leap,  where  we  expect  to  build  our 
winter  quarters. 

December  20th.  The  main  portion  of  the  regiment  went 
out  on  picket. 

December  23d.  The  cold  is  intense  and  we  are  suffering 
for  the  want  of  winter  quarters.  We  have  just  received 
orders  to  build  them.  We  are  camped  on  a  crest  of  hills, 
which  was  very  thickly  wooded  with  fine  timber  just  before 
we  took  possession.  The  wood  had  been  purchased  by  the 
Rebel  authorities  at  a  high  price,  with  the  hope  that  this 
would  be  their  winter  quarters  The  forest  is  quickly 
disappearing. 

December  27th.  The  men  are  busily  engaged  in  the  work 
of  constructing  their  log  cabins.  Every  man  has  suddenly 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  89 

become  a  mason  or  a  carpenter,  and  the  hammer,  the  axe 
and  the  trowel  are  being  plied  with  the  utmost  vigor,  if  not 
with  the  highest  skill. 

December  3lst.  The  Adjutant's  quarters  are  crowded  with 
work.  He  is  making  out  or  giving  instructions  to  others  to 
make  out,  discharge  papers,  muster  out  and  muster  in  rolls 
for  the  men,  who  are  enlisting  as  Veteran  Volunteers. 
A  gentle  rain  fell  this  morning,  and  has  continued,  with  some 
wind,  so  that  all  day  long  the  Heavens  have  wept  over  the 
departing  year. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Life  in  Winter  Quarters. —  Its  Duties  and  Pastimes. —  Its  Interest 
ing  Scenes. —  Dangerous  Picketing  between  the  Rappahannock 
and  the  Rapidan. —  Frequent  Attacks  by  Guerrillas. —  Kilpat- 
rick's  Second  Raid  to  Richmond. —  Col.  Dahlgren's  Part  of  the 
Work. —  Full  Account  by  Lieut.  Merritt,  who  accompanied 
Dahlgren. —  Object  of  the  Raid. —  General  Plan. —  Dahlgren's 
Command. —  Successful  Capture  of  Rebel  Pickets  ^011  the  Rapi 
dan. —  Honor  to  Lieut.  Merritt's  Command. —  Capture  of  a  Rebel 
Court  Martial. —  Conduct  of  Prisoners. —  The  Faithless  Negro 
Guide. —  He  is  Hung. —  Property  of  Mr.  Seddon,  Rebel 
Secretary  of  War. —  His  Negroes. —  Their  Depredations. —  Our 
Soldiers  falsely  Accused  of  Pillaging. —  Henry  A.  Wise  wisely 
Skedaddles. —  Within  a  few  Miles  of  Richmond. —  Cooperation 
with  Kilpatrick  Impossible. — -Preparation  to  Attack  Richmond. 
—  Nature  of  the  Fight, —  Withdrawal. —  Casualties. —  Terrible 
Night's  March. —  Meet  a  Rebel  Ambulance  Train. —  Crossing 
the  Pamunkey. —  The  Mattapony. —  Marching  and  Fighting. — 
The  Ambuscade. —  Dnhlgren  Killed. —  Road  Barricaded. —  In 
Straits. —  Ammunition  Exhausted. —  Preparation  to  Disperse. — 
The  Party  Broken  up. —  The  Cabin  in  the  Woods. —  The  Surren 
der. —  A  Baptist  Pj-eacher. —  The  Parson's  Robbery  and  Apolo 
gy. —  Dahlgren's  Remains. —  Arrival  at  Libby  Prison. —  Casual 
ties  of  the  Fifth  New  York. —  Synopsis  of  Kilpatrick's  March. — 
The  Terrible  Tornado.—  January  1st  to  May  2d,  1864 

After  the  great  excitement  of  an  active  campaign  with  its 
long  marches  and  almost  constant  fighting,  life  in  winter 
quarters  seems  quite  too  dull.  For  some  weeks  at  least, 
until  somewhat  accustomed  to  his  new  home,  the  soldier 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  91 

feels  more  or  less  uneasiness.  However,  this  life  is  not 
without  its  duties  nor  its  opportunities  for  employment. 
Several  days  are  consumed  in  making  our  quarters  comfort 
able  and  convenient.  Our  northern  friends  would  wonder 
to  see  the  skill  and  taste  exhibited  in  the  construction  and 
internal  arrangements  of  our  cabins. 

The  day  is  ushered  in  with  the  reveille,  well  executed  by 
the  bugle  corps,  which  has  been  reorganized,  and  drilled 
for  the  purpose.  At  the  blast  of  these  bugles  we  are  called 
to  our  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper.  Roll  call  is  sounded 
and  the  men  of  each  company  fall  into  line  and  are 
accounted  for.  The  bugle  sounds  to  call  the  orderly  ser 
geants  to  assemble  at  the  adjutant's  quarters  to  receive  any 
special  orders  he  may  have  to  communicate.  By  the  bugle 
the  camp  guard  is  assembled,  inspected  and  ordered  to  its 
posts  of  duty.  At  water  call  the  men  lead  out  their  horses 
to  the  watering.  Drill  call  sends  them  to  the  field  to  learn 
the  tactics  of  war. 

Thus  call  after  call  to  duty  is  sounded  at  intervals 
throughout  the  day,  ending  with  the  taps,  which  calls  for 
the  blowing  out  of  lights,  and  the  seeking  of  rest,  which 
night  demands.  To  these  duties  and  excitements  come  the 
days  of  picketing,  when  a  large  detail  is  sent  out,  leaving 
behind  a  number  just  sufficient  to  care  for  the  camp.  These 
are  generally  men  too  sick  for  hard  duty,  or  whose  horses 
are  unserviceable. 

"While  in  camp  checkers  and  cards  afford  a  pastime  to 
many,  but  a  large  number  spend  their  hours  in  reading  and 
writing.  We  usually  receive  a  daily  mail.  Thus  our  time 
is  filled  with  some  kind  of  employment,  and  even  our  camp 
life  is  far  from  monotonous. 


92  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

January  \st.  The  morning  was  fair  and  beautiful,  but 
the  day  ended  with  the  coldest  weather  ever  known  to  our 
veterans,  while  in  Virginia.  The  rcenlisted  men,  number 
ing  one  hundred  and  eighty-one,  were  mustered  in.  Others 
will  reenlist  before  many  days. 

January  3d.  The  paymaster  has  paid  his  compliments  to 
the  veterans,  and  they  abound  in  greenbacks. 

January  7th.  Sent  out  a  picket  detail  of  three  officers 
and  fifty-six  men. 

January  IQth.  The  camps  of  this  grand  army  occupy  a 
large  territory,  stretching  from  Stevensburg  to  two  or  three 
miles  beyond  Brandy  Station.  The  roads  are  becoming 
almost  bottomless.  However,  long  trains  of  forage  and 
commissary  wagons  may  be  seen  passing  to  and  fro  with 
horses  and  mules  in  mud  from  "  stem  to  stern."  Caval 
cades  of  mudded  horses  and  riders  traverse  the  camps  and 
adjoining  fields  in  various  directions.  Large  flocks  of 
crows  with  their  high-perched  videttes  when  alighted,  or 
their  regular  line  of  march  when  on  the  wing,  leave  an  im 
pression  upon  the  soldier's  mind.  These  sights  are  of  daily 
recurrence. 

January  19^7t.  The  regiment  is  picketing  near  the  Rapi- 
dan,  a  little  below  Germania  Ford.  A  line  of  pickets  ex 
tends  across  to  the  Rappahannock  a  little  below  Fields' 
Ford.  The  peninsular  territory  below  this  line  and  be 
tween  the  rivers  abounds  in  thick  underbrush  and  deep 
ravines,  through  which  guerrillas  creep  up  and  attack  our 
pickets.  Patrols  are  sent  out  daily  from  the  picket  reserves, 
on  the  main  roads  to  the  fords  of  the  rivers,  to  drive  out 
any  force  of  the  enemy  that  might  seek  to  advance  upon  us 
from  that  direction.  To-day  our  patrol  was  attacked  by  a 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  93 

considerable  force  concealed  in  bushes  by  the  road  side. 
Under  very  great  disadvantage,  our  boys  defended  them 
selves  as  best  they  could,  but  suffered  quite  severely.  This 
was  near  Ely's  Ford,  Rapidan. 

January  2'2d.  Our  boys  were  out  again  patrolling  toward 
the  Rappahannock,  and  were  attacked  by  bushwhackers  near 
Ellis'  Ford.  As  on  the  19th  inst.,  one  man  was  killed, 
several  wounded  and  captured.  Among  the  latter  were 
several  veterans,  who  were  daily  looking  for  their  35  days' 
furlough  promised  in  their  reenlistment.  They  will  have  a 
dreary  furlough  in  southern  prisons. 

January  31s£.  Our  chapel  tent  was  dedicated  this  even 
ing  by  Chaplain  E.  P.  Roe,  2d  New  York  Cavalry,  who 
preached  an  excellent  sermon  to  a  large  audience. 

February  6th.  The  2d  Corps  made  a  demonstration  on 
the  Rebel  lines  at  Raccoon  and  Morton's  Fords,  fighting  all 
day.  Gen.  Hays  greatly  distinguished  himself  in  some 
of  the  charges  made  on  the  enemy's  fortifications.  Mean 
while  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  crossed  the  river  at  Culpepper 
Mine  Ford,  and  reconnoitred  along  the  plank  road.  At 
Hampton's  Cross  Roads  a  squad  of  the  enemy  was  encoun 
tered  and  quickly  dispersed.  A  few  prisoners  fell  into  our 
hands. 

February  7th.  The  regiment  returned  to  camp  at  2  P.  M., 
after  a  journey  of  about  35  miles. 

February  13th.  Sixty-eight  recruits  joined  the  regiment. 
Our  ranks  are  thus  being  filled. 

February  2lst.  A  large  temperance  meeting  in  the  chapel, 
aud  a  large  number  signed  the  pledge. 

February  23<7.  A  grand  review  of  a  portion  of  the  army 
before  Generals  Meade.  Pleasanton,  Kilpatrick  and  others, 


94  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

took  place  on  the  plains  between  Stevensburg  and  Pony 
Mountain.  The  infantry,  artillery  and  cavalry  appeared  in 
their  best  uniform  and  with  flying  colors,  presenting  an  im 
posing  spectacle.  The  exercises  closed  with  a  cavalry  skir 
mish  and  charge. 

February  24th.  The  paymaster  occupies  the  chapel  for 
paying  the  regiment. 

February  2Qth.  The  long-looked-for  veteran  leaves-of-ab- 
sence  and  furloughs  made  their  appearance,  but  had  not 
been  in  camp  thirty  minutes  before  they  were  sent  for  from 
brigade  headquarters.  They  are  doubtless  detained  for 
some  wise  purpose,  but  many  fail  to  see  the  point. 

February  28th.  The  whole  division  under  Kilpatrick, 
accompanied  by  Col.  Dahlgren,  who  was  intrusted  with  a 
very  important  position  in  the  expedition,  set  out  on  a  great 
raid  to  Richmond.  We  append  the  following  full  and 
interesting  narrative  of  the  raid,  by  Major  Merritt  (then 
Lieutenant),  who  accompanied  Col.  Dahlgren,  and  was  with 
him  at  his  death. 


NARRATIVE  OF  DAHLGREN'S  RAID. 

Kilpatrick's  second  raid  upon  Richmond  was  made  with 
the  purpose  of  releasing  our  officers  and  men  confined  in 
Libby  Prison,  Castle  Thunder  and  Belle  Island,  and  to 
destroy  the  mills,  workshops,  materials,  stores  and  govern 
ment  property  of  the  Rebels  in  that  city  and  vicinity,  and 
the  rail  road  communications.  The  plan  also  comprehended 
the  capture  of  Lee's  reserve  artillery  at  Frederick  Hall 
Station  on  the  Virginia  Central  rail  road. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  95 

In  the  execution  of  this  general  plan,  Col.  Dahlgren's 
command,  diverging  from  the  main  column  to  the  right  at 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  was  to  inarch  by  Frederick 
Hall,  capture  and  destroy  the  artillery,  cross  the  James 
river  at  Columbia  Mills,  send  a  party  to  destroy  the  rail 
road  bridges  where  the  Danville  road  crosses  the  Appomat- 
tox  river,  and  move  upon  Richmond  from  the  south,  in^  the 
hope  of  gaining  possession  of  the  bridges  spanning  the  river 
between  Manchester  and  the  city  by  surprise,  dash  over  and 
release  the  prisoners,  while  the  main  force  under  Kilpatrick 
occupied  the  enemy's  attention  on  the  north  side  of  the 
town. 

The  expedition  of  Col.  Ulric  Dahlgren  marched  from 
Gen.  Kilpatrick's  headquarters  at  Stevensburg,  Va.,  on  the 
evening  of  Sunday,  February  28th,  1864.  It  comprised 
detachments  from  the  2d  New  York,  5th  New  York,  1st 
Vermont,  1st  Maine  and  5th  Michigan  regiments  of  cavalry 
of  the  3d  division  cavalry  corps,  army  of  the  Potomac,  in 
all  four  hundred  men.  The  detachment  of  the  Fifth  New 
York  under  command  of  Lieut.  Merritt,  Co.  K,  consisted  of 
Lieut.  Robert  Black  and  forty  men  selected  from  companies 
I  and  K.  This  party  left  camp  about  3  p.  M.,  being  sent 
in  advance  with  orders  to  capture  the  enemy's  videttes  at 
Ely's  Ford  on  the  Rapidan  river,  and,  if  practicable,  their 
picket  reserve  also,  the  object  being  to  secure  the  passage 
of  the  river  and  open  the  way  for  the  march  without  the 
alarm's  being  communicated  to  the  enemy. 

"We  proceeded  to  within  two  miles  of  the  ford  and  halted 
until  dark,  when  Lieut.  Merritt,  with  fifteen  dismounted 
men  and  two  scouts,  sent  from  headquarters,  waded  the 
river  about  one  mile  above  the  ford,  and,  aided  by  the 


96  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

darkness,  the  night  being  stormy,  succeeded  in  approaching 
and  securing  the  two  videttes  guarding  the  ford,  and,  after 
much  difficulty,  ascertained  the  position  of  the  reserve.  A 
large  fire  built  in  a  ravine  on  the  banks  of  the  river  some 
distance  below  the  ford,  evidently  intended  to  deceive  us, 
caused  some  delay ;  but  we  finally  discovered  that  their 
picket  reserve  were  in  a  house  some  distance  back  from  the 
river.  We  proceeded  silently  to  this  house,  surrounded  it, 
and,  rushing  in,  after  a  brief  struggle,  captured  the  whole 
party,  sixteen  men,  a  lieutenant,  and  the  officer  of  the  day, 
who  had  halted  for  the  night  on  his  tour  of  inspection. 
His  report  of  the  vigilance  and  efficiency  of  his  picket  was 
probably  never  made.  Only  two  shots  were  fired,  and  no 
alarm  raised,  as  we  afterward  ascertained  that  the  enemy 
were  not  aware  that  we  had  crossed  the  river  until  the 
column  had  passed  Spottsylvania. 

Lieut.  Black,  with  the  remainder  of  the  men,  was  left 
on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  with  directions  to  throw 
out  a  few  skirmishers  on  the  edge  of  the  stream,  and  move 
down  as  close  as  possible  without  discovery,  and  to  be  pre 
pared  either  to  cross  or  cover  our  party  as  circumstances 
rendered  necessary.  Securing  our  prisoners  we  returned  to 
the  river  and  found  the  advance  of  Dahlgren'a  column 
across,  we  having  immediately  communicated  our  success. 
Twenty-three  of  our  men  were  sent  to  the  rear  in  charge  of 
the  prisoners.  Col.  Dahlgren,  in  recognition  of  our  success, 
assigned  to  us  the  advance  of  the  expedition,  which  duty 
we  performed  throughout. 

Taking  the  Chancellorsville  road  we  passed  through 
Spottsylvania  Court  House  and,  bearing  to  the  right, 
marched  without  incident,  until  we  came  to  the  vicinity  of 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  97 

Frederick  Hall  Station,  about  3  p.  M.  Monday.  Here  we 
found  the  reserve  artillery,  numbering  83  pieces  of  every 
calibre,  parked,  with  a  small  brigade  of  infantry  guarding 
it,  Approaching  through  the  woods  with  the  utmost  cir 
cumspection,  we  came  within  300  yards  of  the  camp  with 
out  discovery.  A  rapid  but  thorough  reconnoissance  demon 
strated  the  impossibility  of  capturing  their  guns  with  our 
small  force,  and  we  saw  the  necessity  of  withdrawing  from 
the  dangerous  vicinity  without  attracting  the  notice  of  the 
enemy.  To  accomplish  this  we  had  to  pass  around  the  base 
of  a  small  hill  on  the  edge  of  the  camp.  Here  there  was  a 
house,  and  we  observed  a  number  of  men  moving  about, 
and  from  the  character  of  the  ground  suspected  the  pres 
ence  of  a  battery  also.  It  was  of  course  necessary  to 
ascertain  whether  this  suspicion  was  correct,  and  to  capture 
the  men.  In  order  to  save  the  valuable  time  it  would  have 
required  to  deploy  skirmishers,  and  as  the  only  probable  way 
of  preventing  the  alarm  of  the  camp,  our  detachment  vol 
unteered  to  charge  the  hill,  Major  Cooke,  2d  New  York, 
deploying  a  squadron  to  cover  us  in  case  of  need.  Separat 
ing  in  two  parties  we  charged  on  opposite  sides  of  a  gorge 
running  into  the  hill,  and  approached  the  small  house  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  surround  it.  After  a  few  shots,  tho 
party  who  had  retired  inside  the  building,  when,  to  their 
utter  amazement  they  discovered  our  character,  surrendered 
themselves  prisoners.,  and  we  learned  with  almost  equal 
astonishment  and  no  little  amusement,  that  we  had  captured 
a  court  martial,  securing  the  entire  party,  president,  judge 
advocate,  members  of  the  court,  witnesses,  prisoner,  and 
orderlies  in  attendance.  Among  them  was  a  Col.  Jones,  1st 
Maryland  Light  Artillery,  two  majors  and  the  usual  com- 


98  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

plement  of  captains  and  lieutenants,  the  whole  party 
numbering  about  thirty,  with  several  fine  horses.  The 
Rebels  were  engaged  in  artillery  practice  when  we  approached 
their  camp,  and  the  regular  and  continued  discharge  of  their 
guns  served  to  inform  us  that  we  remained  undiscovered. 

Nearly  all  the  prisoners  subsequently  escaped  from  us 
during  the  night,  as  we  were  unable  to  guard  them  properly, 
and,  in  fact,  Col.  Dahlgren  did  not  desire  to  be  encumbered 
with  them.  The  judge  advocate,  Lieut.  Blair  and  another, 
however,  adhered  to  us  most  faithfully  until  the  final  break 
ing  up  of  the  expedition.  Lieut.  Blair  afterwards  visited  us 
in  Libby  Prison,  and  tendered  his  testimony  in  our  favor, 
but  without  mitigating  the  severity  of  our  imprisonment  in 
any  way. 

The  rail  road  was  torn  up  about  one  mile  from  Frederick 
Hall,  and  we  then  proceeded  on  our  march.  A  heavy  storm 
prevailed  during  Monday  night.  The  rain  fell  in  torrents 
and  rendered  the  roads  almost  impassable.  Men  and  horses 
were  beginning  to  suffer  for  rest  and  refreshment.  The 
woods  being  dense  increased  the  difficulties  of  the  march, 
and  about  three  o'clock  Tuesday  morning,  it  became  neces 
sary  to  make  a  brief  halt  in  order  to  close  up  the  column, 
which  was  scattered  several  miles  in  the  rear,  struggling 
through  the  mud  holes  of  the  miserable  swamp  road.  At 
the  halting  place  we  captured  six  wagons  loaded  with 
forage  for  Lee's  army. 

We  now  learned  that  we  were  about  three  miles  from 
Dover  Mills,  and  ten  miles  below  Columbia  Mills.  The 
guide,  a  negro,  had  misled  us  during  the  night,  and,  to 
obviate  the  delay  of  retracing  our  steps,  Col.  Dahlgren,  on 
the  representations  of  the  negro  that  an  excellent  ford  was 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  99 

to  be  fouled  at  Dover  Mills,  concluded  to  cross  at  that  point. 
After  two  hours'  halt  we  again  moved  on,  and  soon  reached 
Dover  Mills,  but  only  to  meet  disappointment.  The  -negro 
had  deceived  us,  no  ford  existed  at  this  point  nor  any  means 
of  crossing  the  river.  He  then  stated  that  the  ford  was 
three  miles  below :  this  was  obviously  false,  as  the  river  was 
evidently  navigable  to  and  above  this  place,  as  we  saw  a 
sloop  going  down  the  river. 

This  man  was  sent  from  headquarters  to  guide  us  and  was 
considered  faithful  and  reliable.  I  afterwards  learned  that 
he  came  into  our  lines  from  Richmond,  in  company  with 
several  officers  who  escaped  from  Libby  Prison  by  Col. 
Streight's  tunnel,  and  whom  he  piloted  through.  He  was 
born  and  had  always  belonged  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Dover  Mills,  was  very  shrewd  and  intelligent,  and  it  would 
seem  impossible  that  he  should  not  know  that  no  ford 
existed  in  the  neighborhood,  where  he  had  seen  vessels 
daily  passing.  Col.  Dahlgren  had  warned  him  that  if 
detected  acting  in  bad  faith,  or  lying,  we  would  surely  hang 
him,  and  after  we  left  Dover  Mills,  and  had  gone  down  the 
river  so  far  as  to  render  further  prevarication  unavailing, 
the  colonel  charged  him  with  betraying  us,  destroying  the 
whole  design  of  the  expedition,  and  hazarding  the  lives  of 
every  one  engaged  in  it, —  and  told  him  that  he  should  be 
hung  in  conformity  with  the  terms  of  his  service.  The 
negro  became  greatly  alarmed,  stated  confusedly  that  he 
was  mistaken,  thought  we  intended  to  cross  the  river  in 
boats,  and  finally  said  that  he  had  done  wrong,  was  sorry, 
etc.  The  colonel  ordered  him  to  be  hung. — a  halter  strap 
was  used  for  the  purpose,  and  we  left  the  miserable  wretch 
dangling  by  the  roadside.  His  body  was  afterwards  cut 


100  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

down  and  buried  by  Capt.  Mitchell  who  had  remained 
behind  some  time  to  complete  the  destruction  of  some  mills 
and  grain. 

At  Dover  Mills  we  halted  about  two  hours  on  the 
property  of  Mr.  Seddon,  the  Rebel  secretary  of  war.  No 
Union  troops  had  ever  been  here  before,  and  our  appearance 
created  great  excitement  and  consternation  among  the 
whites, —  while  the  contrabands  flocked  about  us  in  great 
numbers,  nearly  wild  with  joy.  The  negroes  invariably 
came  with  the  request  that  we  would  visit  their  master  or 
overseer,  and  arrest  or  punish  him  for  his  cruelty.  "We  of 
course  declined  the  office  of  redressers  of  grievances  of  this 
nature. 

The  ties  of  affection  we  sometimes  hear  about,  binding 
master  and  slave  together  under  the  patriarchal  institution, 
evidently  did  not  exist  in  Mr.  Seddon's  neighborhood,  how 
ever  it  might  be  elsewhere. 

At  this  point  we  destroyed  a  number  of  fine  mills,  several 
canal  boats  with  army  supplies,  and  a  large  amount  of  flour, 
meal  and  grain.  A  lock  of  the  Richmond  and  Lynchburg 
canal  was  also  blown  up.  Besides  this,  we  captured  a  large 
number  of  fine  horses.  In  fact  our  command  had  been 
able  to  keep  well  mounted  from  the  number  of  horses 
secured  up  to  this  time.  The  barn  of  Mr.  Seddon  was 
burned,  whether  by  accident  or  design  is  not  known.  It 
was  not  done  by  order  of  Col.  Dahlgren.  The  negroes  on 
this  estate,  as  well  as  those  of  a  Mr.  Morson  near  by,  were 
greatly  excited  and  exasperated,  and  invited  the  soldiers  to 
plunder,  themselves  setting  the  example.  Some  excesses 
were  committed  but  the  officers  exerted  themselves  to  the 
utmost  to  drive  the  soldiers  from  both  these  houses.  The 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  101 

greatest  damage  was  done  by  the  negroes,  who  seemed 
frantic  for  plunder  and  revenge;  it  was  especially  so  with 
the  women.  They  invaded  both  mansions  screaming  for 
silk  dresses,  breaking  furniture,  and  tearing  everything  to 
pieces  they  could  lay  hands  upon.  Pantries  and  closets 
were  thoroughly  ransacked,  judging  from  the  appearance 
of  the  ground  outside  the  house.  They 'said  they  were 
nearly  starved,  overworked  and  cruelly  beaten  without 
cause,  and  certainly  exhibited  a  most  miserable  condition. 
The  extent  of  the  damage  I  did  not  observe,  having  been 
sent  by  Col.  Dahlgren  to  search  a  house  near  by  for  Rebel 
correspondence,  upon  information  given  by  negroes,  and 
only  returned  a  moment  before  we  resumed  the  march. 
But  it  is  certain  that  nothing  of  the  character  charged  upon 
us  by  the  Richmond  authorities  and  newspapers,  ever 
occurred,  such  as  wholesale  plundering,  wanton  destruction 
of  private  property,  carrying  off  plate  and  jewelry,  etc. 
On  the  contrary  the  soldiers  were  restrained  to  the  utmost, 
and  were  forced  to  return  such  plundered  articles  as  were 
found  in  their  .possession.  It  was  impossible  to  prevent 
some  acts  of  disorder  being  committed  upon  the  pro 
perty  of  so  prominent  a  Rebel  official  as  Seddon,  espe 
cially  under  the  example  and  imitation  of  his  own  house 
servants;  but  as  to  carrying  off  his  plate  and  his  wife's 
jewelry,  I  can  say  that  I  observed  in  the  possession  of  one 
soldier  only,  anything  resembling  such  articles.  One  man 
had  a  sugar  basin,  cake  basket,  and  couple  of  candlesticks, 
all  apparently  plaited  ware  of  a  very  cheap  description,  of  a 
pattern  found  in  every  shop  window.  These  I  ordered  the 
man  to  throw  down  upon  the  lawn,  and  they  were  left  lying 
there.  If  Mrs.  Seddon's  plate  and  jewelry  were  all  of  the 
9 


102  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

same  character  and  value,  she  will   be  able  to  replace  them 
without  difficulty  and  at  very  slight  expense. 

Sergt.  D.  II.  Scofield,  company  K,  learned  that  Gen 
Henry  A.  Wise  was  stopping  in  the  neighborhood,  and,  after 
some  search,  discovered  his  whereabouts.  He  went  to  the 
place  just  as  the  redoubtable  ex-governor  mounted  his 
horse.  Scofield  made  after  him,  and  quite  an  exciting 'chase 
ensued.  The  hero  of  Hatteras  Island  was  not  inclined  to  a 
personal  encounter  even  with  a  single  man,  and,  being  well 
mounted,  succeeded  in  making  his  escape  into  the  woods. 

Unable  to  cross  the  James,  there  was  but  one  way 
open  to  us  —  the  western  pike,  running  along  the  river  and 
approaching  Richmond  from  the  west.  Leaving  a  small 
force  under  Capt.  Mitchell,  2d  New  York  cavalry,  to  burn 
some  mills  and  stores,  Dahlgren  pushed  rapidly  on  with  the 
rest  of  his  command  (halting  only  to  dispose  of  the  negro 
guide)  until  we  arrived  within  seven  miles  of  the  city  and 
in  sight  of  the  outer  line  of  fortifications.  Here  we  halted 
about  three  P.  M.  at  a  cross  road.  Kilpatrick  had  been 
engaged  on  the  Brook  pike,  the  northern  approach  to  the 
city,  during  the  morning.  We  heard  his  guns  for  some 
time,  but  they  had  finally  ceased,  earlier  in  the  day.  Dahl 
gren  immediately  dispatched  scou^  to  communicate  with 
him  ;  they  never  returned.  We  ascertained  that  the  outer 
line  of  work  in  our  front  was  held  by  a  picket  only,  and  made 
preparations  to  attack  at  dark.  We  had  little  hope  of  ?c- 
complifihing  more  than  a  reconnoissance.  Kilpatrick  had 
evidently  withdrawn,  and  we  could  not  hope  to  enter  the 
city  with  our  small  party  from  this  direction.  The  locomo 
tive  whistles  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  James  indicated  . 
that  reinforcements  were  rapidly  coining  in  from  the  direc- 


FIFTH  NEW  YOKK  CAVALRY.  103 

tion  of  Petersburg.  But  Dahlgren  observed  that  we  could 
gain  some  information  of  the  ground  and  character  of  the 
defenses  which  might  be  useful  at  a  future  day,  and  besides, 
we  were  all  unwilling  to  withdraw  without  at  least  an 
attempt  to  carry  out  the  object  of  the  expedition,  however 
improbable  the  chances  of  success.  We  learned  from  per 
sons  coming  from  the  city,  whom  we  arrested,  that  Gen. 
Kilpatrick  had  retired  after  the  attack  in  the  morning,  and 
the  scouts  having  failed  to  report  Lieut.  Reuben  Bartley, 
United  States  signal  corps  who  accompanied  the  expedition, 
was,  towards  evening,  sent  out  with  a  party  to  endeavor  to 
find  Kilpatrick  or  co.mmunicate  with  him.  He  proceeded 
across  the  country  to  the  Brook  pike  and  approached  to  within 
a  few  miles  of  the  city,  but  without  success.  He  ascertained, 
however,  that  a  large  force  of  Rebel  cavalry  was  out,  and 
had  great  difficulty  in  avoiding  several  parties.  As  soon  as 
evening  set  in  Lieut.  Bartley  endeavored  to  open  communi 
cation  with  rockets  but  his  signals  were  not  replied  to. 

Before  attacking  the  enemy  it  was  necessary  to  dispose 
of  the  ambulance  containing  signal  rockets,  materials  for 
burning  bridges,  &c.,  together  with  the  negroes  —  several 
hundreds  having  followed  us,  on  foot  and  mounted,  some 
with  bundles  containing  their  movable  possessions,  some 
with  an  extra  horse  taken  from  the  plantation  in  renumera- 
tion  for  services  rendered,  others  barefoot  and  almost  naked, 
but  all  happy  in  the  conviction  that  they  were  free.  They 
were  sent  off  in  the  direction  of  Hungary  Station  and 
awaited  us  near  an  old  church  which  the  signal  officer  had 
selected  for  observations. 

Arrangements  being  completed,  at  dusk,  we  moved  down 
upon  the  enemy's  pickets,  who  hastily  retired,  evidently  in 


104  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

surprise.  "We  pursued  them  rapidly  inside  the  outer  Hue 
of  defenses  —  earthworks  substantially  constructed,  but 
not  mounted.  The  first  real  opposition  we  met  was  near  the 
Second  line.  Here  they  had  rallied  a  considerable  force, 
and  evidently  intended  to  make  a  stand  under  the  protec 
tion  of  a  piece  of  woods  where  the  road  made  a  bend.  Our 
charge  in  column  was  received  with  a  heavy  volley,  and  it 
became  necessary  to  deploy,  to  dislodge  them.  Our  men  in 
the  advance  were  quickly  formed  on  the  right  of  the  road 
as  skirmishers,  and  by  gaining  a  position  well  up  on  the 
flank  of  the  enemy,  assisted  materially  in  driving  them  out, 
which  was  done  after  three  charges  led  by  Col.  Dahlgren 
and  Major  Cooke.  The  Rebels,  consisting  entirely  of  in 
fantry,  including  the  Richmond  City  battalion,  broke  across 
the  fields  for  the  town.  Our  men  were  dismounted  and 
pursued  them  with  the  utmost  impetuosity.  The  small 
column  kept  mounted  on  the  pike  alone  maintaining  their 
formation.  It  was  a  scrub  race, —  across  fields,  fences  and 
stone  walls,  we  pressed  after  them,  rallying,  and  scattering 
them  repeatedly  as  they  attempted  to  dispute  our  advance 
whenever  a  wall  or  house  afforded  shelter.  Between  for 
midable  works,  over  rifle  pits,  ditches  and  every  obstruction, 
with  a  cheer,  a  run  and  a  volley  from  our  Spencers,  we 
crowded  them  back  to  the  edge  of  the  city.  Here  we 
encountered  a  heavy  force  formed  in  line  of  battle.  It  was 
now  dark  and  the  gas  lights  burning.  We  were  inside  the 
city  limits,  though  the  houses  were  scattered.  Many  of  our 
boys  expected  at  last  to  see  the  inside  of  the  Rebel  capital. 
But  the  force  in  front  was  soon  found  to  be  too  great  for  us 
to  contend  with.  Formed  in  skirmish  line  we  could  not 
entirely  cover  them.  Still  our  men  advanced  gallantly  to 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  105 

the  attack,  and  even  forced  them  back  somewhat  from  their 
position,  stubbornly  holding  all  we  ghined.  Their  right 
rested  upon  a  hill  descending  abruptly  into  a  swampy  flat. 
This  we  could  not  turn  in  consequence  of  our  small  num 
bers,  'and  the  colonel  soon  decided  to  withdraw.  He  said 
we  had  gone  "  far  enough" — and  indeed  had  militia  ardor 
been  any  of  the  most  ardent,  we  would  have  found  it  quite 
too  far.  Leaving  Capt.  Mitchell  with  a  strong  party  to 
cover  our  rear  and  check  either  pursuit  or  attack,  Dahlgren 
proceeded  to  collect  his  scattered  force,  picking  up  all  the 
wounded  we  could  find  in  the  dark.  Having  no  means  of 
conveyance,  the  assistant  surgeon  of  the  2d  New  York  was 
left  in  charge  of  them,  and  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands. 

We  retired  leisurely  and  without  the  slightest  annoyance 
from  the  enemy.  Their  loss  was  variously  stated  by  their 
newspapers  to  be  from  forty  to  seventy  killed  and  wounded, 
including  several  officers.  We  had  but  one  officer  wounded, 
Lieut.  Harris,  5th  Michigan  cavalry.  Our  looses  in  all 
could  not  be  ascertained  but  probably  did  not  exceed  a 
dozen  or  fifteen. 

The  route  now  pursued  was  in  the  direction  of  Hungary 
Station,  on  the  Central  rail  road,  taking  up  the  signal  officer 
and  the  rest  sent  away  in  the  afternoon.  We  were  obliged 
to  force  a  citizen  to  become  our  guide,  as  the  scout,  sent  from 
headquarters  for  that  purpose,  although  assuring  us  that  he 
knew  every  foot  of  ground  within  thirty  miles  of  Rich 
mond,  proved  utterly  inefficient.  No  one  engaged  in  that 
night's  march  will  ever  forget  its  difficulties.  The  storm 
had  set  in  with  renewed  fury.  The  fierce  wind  drove  the  rain, 
snow  and  sleet.  The  darkness  was  rendered  more  intense  by 
the  thick  pines  which  overgrew  the  road,  and  which  dashed 


106  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

into  our  faces  almost  an  avalanche  of  water  at  every  step. 
Using  unfrequented'wood  roads  we  were  halted  frequently 
to  remove  trees  fallen  across  the  path,  and  to  trace  the  course 
with  our  hands,  for  even  the  sagacity  of  the  horses  was  often 
at  fault.  Tired  and  exhausted  the  men  fell  asleep  upon  their 
horses.  It  became  necessary  to  march  by  file,  and  at  every 
turn  of  the  path  to  pass  the  word  down  to  "  turn  to  the  right" 
or  keep  to  the  left  of  the  tree.  It  was  utterly  impossible  to 
see  a  yard  in  advance.  Slowly  and  laboriously  we  toiled 
through  —  the  jaded  animals  stumbling  and  falling  down, 
and  when  we  finally  reached  Hungary  Station,  discovered 
that  Capt.  Mitchell  and  his  party  had  become  separated 
from  us.  They  were  unable  to  track  us,  although  following 
close  in  our  rear,  but,  more  fortunate  than  ourselves,  suc 
ceeded,  after  hiding  in  the  woods  all  night,  in  making  their 
way  to  Kilpatrick,  wrhom  they  joined  next  day  near  White 
House. 

Lt.  Bartley  had  been  informed  by  contrabands,  that  Gen. 
Kilpatrick  had  gone  down  the  peninsula,  with  a  large  force 
of  the  enemy  in  his  rear.  Concluding,  therefore,  that  it 
was  impracticable  to  join  him,  Dahlgren,  after  consultation, 
decided  upon  making  for  Gloucester  Point  to  join  G.en.  But 
ler's  army.  We  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  McClellan's 
bridge,  and,  soon  after,  came  upon  a  rebel  ambulance  train 
returning  to  Richmond  with  wounded  from  the  scene  of  an 
attack  made  that  night,  upon  the  2d  Brigade  of  Kilpatrick's 
Division.  For  some  time  they  were  not  aware  of  our  char 
acter,  but  were  loud  in  their  boasts  that  they  had  driven  off 
the  Yankees  —  their  surprise  was  ludicrous  when  Col.  Dahl 
gren  informed  them  that  we  were  Yankees,  and  asked  "  if 
they  did  not  think  they  were  a  nice  lot  of  fellows."  —  De- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  107 

taining  them  long  enough  to  enable  MS  to  close  up  our  own 
men,  and  after  conversing  with  some  of  our  wounded  in  the 
ambulances,  but  failing  to  gain  any  information  to  guide  us, 
we  dismissed  them, —  and  anticipating  immediate  pursuit, 
proceeded  rapidly  towards  the  Pamunkey  river.  We  reached 
Hanovertown  ferry  about  8  o'clock  A.  M.  Wednesday.  The 
river  was  very  high,  and  the  flal-boat  used  at  the  ferry  had 
been  removed,  but  we  discovered  it  hidden  among  the 
bushes  on  the  opposite  bank.  Several  of  the  boys  stripped 
off  their  clothing  and  two  succeeded  in  swimming  over  and 
bringing  back  the  boat.  The  tow  rope  was  found,  and  quick 
ly  stretched  across  and  made  fast. —  Several  hours  were  con 
sumed  in  crossing.  As  soon  as  all  hands  were  over  we 
continued  our  march  for  the  Mattapony  river,  encountering 
and  dispersing  several  small  parties  of  the  enemy. 

After  driving  out  a  party  of  Rebels  at  Ayletts,  we  crossed 
the  Mattapony  about  2  p.  M.  using  the  ferry  boat,  (fortu 
nately  discovered  some  distance  down  the  river),  for.  the 
men,  and  swimming  the  horses.  The  crossing  was  effected 
in  about  an  hour.  When  half  the  party  had  "crossed  an 
attack  was  made  upon  us,  but  it  was  easily  repulsed  by  a 
few  skirmishers. 

After  crossing  the  Mattapony  until  we  reached  the  scene 
of  final  disaster,  we  were  engaged  in  constant  skirmishing 
with  the  enemy,  who  had  collected  from  every  point  to  op 
pose  our  march.  But  a  single  road  was  available,  and  at 
every  point  of  woods  we  were  assailed  by  a  volley  from 
shot  guns,  carbines  and  rifles.  Our  flankers  were  captured 
almost  as  soon  as  sent  out.  The  enemy  invariably  declined 
coming  to  close  quarters,  scattering  before  our  repeated 
charges.  Notwithstanding  the  annoyances,  our  progress, 


108  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

though  slow,  was  steady  until  about  6  P.  M.,  when  we  were 
forced  to  make  a  long  halt  to  feed  both  horses  and  men, 
both  being  utterly  prostrated  with  fatigue  and  hunger.  We 
stopped  soon  after  crossing  the  Anseamancock  creek,  and  a 
few  miles  from  King  and  Queen  Court  House.  Corn  was 
procured  in  ample  quantity  from  a  barn  near  by,  and  the  men 
proceeded  to  cook  their  first  meal  for  nearly  thirty-six  hours. 
Our  party  had  become  reduced  to  about  seventy  men.  Seve 
ral  had  been  captured  during  the  day,  and  a  few  wounded 
and  left  from  necessity.  Nearly  all  the  effective  force  was 
with  Capt.  Mitchell,  and  consequently  lost  the  night  before. 
One  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  contrabands  still  ad 
hered  to  us.  Ammunition  was  mostly  exhausted,  the  ma 
jority  of  the  men  having  none  at  all.  Some  were  slightly 
wounded,  or  so  much  exhausted  as  to  be  useless,  but  we 
still  hoped  to  succeed  in  reaching  Gloucester  Point,  opposite 
to  which  we  would  find  some  of  Gen.  Butler's  army.  After 
three  hours' rest  we  aroused  the  men,  not  without  exertion, 
and  after  getting  them  mounted,  resumed  the  march.  The 
night  was  again  stormy,  a  drizzling  rain  falling.  The  road, 
as  usual,  ran  through  thick  pine  woods,  rendering  every  ob 
ject  invisible. 

The  first  evidence  of  the  enemy's  being  in  advance  was 
the  absence  of  three  men  sent  upon  picket  a  short  distance 
ahead  of  our  halting  place.  Very  soon  after  the  discovery 
we  were  challenged.  The  advance  guard  consisted  of  but 
six  men,  all  that  could  be  spared  from  the  column.  Col. 
Dahlgren  had  ridden  to  the  head  of  the  advance  guard  a 
moment  before  we  were  challenged  by  the  enemy.  He  was 
immediately  followed  by  Major  Cooke.  I  responded  to  the 
challenge  by  demanding  "  who  are  you  ?"  The  word  was  re- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  109 

pcated  and  the  colonel  immediately  called  out,  '•  surrender  or 
we  will  shoot  you" — and  snapped  his  pistol,  the  cap  only 
exploding.  The  next  instant  a  heavy  volley  was  poured  in 
upon  us.  The  flash  of  the  pieces  afforded  us  a  momentary 
glimpse  of  their  position  stretching  parallel  with  the  road 
about  fifteen  paces  from  us.  Every  tree  was  occupied,  and 
the  bushes  poured  forth  a  sheet  of  fire.  A  bullet  grazing 
my  leg  and  probably  striking  my  horse  somewhere  in  the 
neck,  caused  him  to  make  a  violent  spring  sideways.  I  was 
aware  of  some  one  dropping  beside  me,  and  attracted  by  a 
movement  upon  the  ground,  demanded  who  it  was.  Major 
Cooke  replied,  that  his  horse  had  been  shot.  Neither  of 
us  knew,  at  the  moment,  of  the  death  of  Dahlgren,  though 
he  was  not  four  feet  from  us  when  he  fell.  A  scout 
who  had  been  somewhat  in  advance,  now  returned  and 
reported  that  the  road  was  barricaded  two  hundred  yards 
ahead,  and  was  impassable.  In  a  moment  a  heavy  fire  was 
opened  upon  the  flank  and  rear  of  our  column.  Major 
Cooke  desired  me  to  go  back  and  assist  the  colonel  to  take 
care  of  it.  We  both  supposed  he  had  escaped,  as  not  a 
groan  was  heard,  and  everything  was  invisible  in  the  dark 
ness.  Leaving  Major  Cooke,  who  was  extricating  himself 
from  his  horse,  I  rode  back  to  the  column.  Dahlgren  was 
not  there,  and  I  now  knew  that  he  had  fallen,  as  there  were 
but  four  in  the  group  ahead  when  the  volley  was  fired 

Instantly  ordering  all  who  had  ammunition  to  fire  into 
the  bushes  to  check  a  charge,  which  would  have  routed  us, 
the  column  was  moved  ahead,  until  a  slight  opening  in  the 
thick  woods  enabled  us  to  turn  off  the  road  and  form  into 
line.  The  road  was  grade  1  down  about  four  feet  with 
perpendicular  banks  supported  by  cedar  boughs  interlaced, 


110  HiSTOiiic  RECORDS. 

in  a  manner  irequently  seen  in  Virginia.  Ordering  the 
fence  thrown  down,  the  men  were  immediately  brought  into 
line,  facing  the  road.  Major  Gooke  had  now  returned. 
We  soon  discovered  that  we  were  in  a  small  clearing  on 
rising  ground  surrounded  by  the  forest.  Moving  back  a 
few  yards  for  more  space,  we  massed  the  negroes  compactly 
in  the  rear,  and  awaited  the  enemy.  The  men  stood  per 
fectly  firm  though  almost  all  of  them  were  utterly  destitute 
of  ammunition,  and  fully  aware  of  the  hopelessness  of  our 
position.  After  a  time  we  discovered  that  the  enemy  did 
not  propose  to  attack  us.  We  were  aware  that  two  battalions 
of  cavalry  were  at  King  and  Queen  Court  House,  which  we 
hoped  to  flank  by  a  road  about  two  miles  from  the  town.  We 
were  now  cut  off  from  this  road  by  the  force  ahead  and  the 
barricades.  There  was  no  other  road  in  the  vicinity  but  the 
one  we  had  been  marching  upon.  The  country  was  broken 
up  in  rough  hills,  thickly  wooded,  or  dense  jungles,  render 
ing  it  utterly  impracticable  to  make  our  way  across  the  coun 
try  mounted.  We  were  also  cut  off  from  the  rear,  and  could 
not  retrace  our  steps,  and  soon  discovered  that  we  were 
entirely  surrounded.  The  two  prisoners,  during  the  con 
fusion,  had  made  their  escape,  as  well  as  the  citizen  guide 
whom  we  had  pressed  into  service,  and  the  enemy  were 
aware  that  our  ammunition  was  exhausted.  An  inspection 
showed  that  less  than  thirty  rounds  remained  in  the  whole 
party.  I  had  but  a  single  pistol  cartridge  myself,  which  I 
had  reserved  for  a  last  recourse. 

Under  these  disastrous  circumstances,  Major  Cooke,  after 
a  consultation  with  Lt.  Bartley  and  myself,  decided  upon 
the  necessity  of  breaking  up  the  party  in  the  hope  of  get- 
ing  through  the  enemy's  line  dismounted,  and  by  spreading 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  Ill 

out  in  twos  and  threes,  to  baffle  pursuit,  and  accomplish  the 
remaining  twenty-five  miles  which  we  estimated  to  be  the 
distance  to  Gloucester  Point.  Major  Cooke  and  myself 
together  made  a  careful  reconnoissance,  and  found  that  we 
were  closely  surrounded  by  a  large  force.  Their  fires  could 
be  seen  at  several  points,  and  so  near  were  they  that  their 
voices,  in  conversation,  were  plainly  audible.  The  men  were 
dismounted,  and  ordered  to  drive  their  sabres  into  the 
ground  and  picket  their  horses  to  them,  it  being  impossible  to 
kill  the  animals  without  attracting  notice.  The  Spencer  car 
bines  were  destroyed  by  removing  and  throwing  away,  or 
burying  the  chambers,  and  breaking  the  magazine  tubes. 
The  men  were  instructed  to  take  only  the:r  belts,  revolvers 
and  haversacks,  that  they  might  not  be  impeded  by  a  heavy 
load  which  would  be  soon  abandoned,  affording  evidence  of 
the  trail,  and  assist  pursuit.  As  soon  as  these  arrangements 
were  silently  made,  we  desired  them  to  select  companions 
and  to  form  into  parties  of  three  or  four,  when  we  gave  them 
the  points  of  direction  as  nearly  as  could  be  determined, 
and  bade  them  good  bye.  One  of  the  men  made  a  collec 
tion  of  cartridges  and  brought  me  a  charge  for  two  revolvers. 
I  shall  never  forget  the  kind  act. 

About  forty  men  departed  in  this  manner,  the  rest,  being 
too  much  exhausted,  remained  on  the  ground  and  surren 
dered  themselves  next  morning.  The  negroes  we  had  to 
abandon  to  their  fate.  After  all  who  could  do  so,  had  with 
drawn,  Major  Cooke,  Lieut.  Bartley,  myself  and  three 
scouts,  took  our  departure,  which  we  effected  by  creeping 
on  hands  and  knees  for  about  half  a  mile,  between  the 
different  parties  and  posts  of  the  Rebels.  We  traveled 
until  daybreak  when  we  secreted  ourselves  in  a  jungle  of 


112  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

young  pines,  where  we  passed  the  day  principally  in  sleep, 
which  we  greatly  needed.  When  night  returned  we  re 
sumed  our  journey.  After  traveling  several  miles  we  con 
cluded  to  stop  at  an  isolated  cabin  to  procure  food.  We 
entered  the  place  and  found  art  old  man,  overseer  of  the 
plantation,  and  his  wife.  They  consented  with  apparent 
willingness  to  give  us  supper,  and  prepare  a  supply  of  food 
to  carry  with  us,  for  which  we  offered  to  pay  liberally.  The 
old  man  built  a  blazing  fire  and  we  all  gathered  around  the 
hearth  to  infuse  a  little  warmth  into  our  benumbed  limbs. 
Suddenly  the  door  was  opened  and  before  we  could  grasp 
our  pistols  from  beneath  our  clothing,  where  we  had  carried 
them,  to  keep  them  dry,  the  room  was  filled  with  soldiers, 
who  demanded  our  surrender,  and  we  were  forced  to  comply. 

The  leader  of  the  party  was  the  owner  of  the  plantation, 
captain  of  home  guards,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Bagley,  pastor  of  a 
Baptist  church.  This  gentleman  of  three-fold  calling  took 
us  to  his  own  house  near  by,  where  a  plentiful  supper  was 
already  prepared  for  his  band,  -who  had  been  beating  the 
woods  all  day  in  search  of  our  fugitives.  The  chagriu 
occasioned  by  our  escape  from  their  well  contrived  ambush 
had  stimulated  their  exertions,  and  they  had  been  rewarded 
with  almost  complete  success,  only  three  of  our  party 
making  good  their  escape.  The  country  was  completely 
aroused.  Every  man,  and  even  women,  children  and  dogs 
took  part  in  the  search. 

We  were  apparently  objects  of  great  interest.  Numbers 
came  to  gratify  their  curiosity  with  a  view  of  us.  Our 
captors  guarded  us  most  assiduously,  pistol  in  hand,  or,  while 
engaged  at  supper,  kept  them  beside  their  plates.  Major 
Cooke  asserts  that  the  parson  said  grace  with  a  cocked  revol- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  113 

er  in  his  hand.  After  supper  we  were  removed  to  the  "best 
room,"  where  shake  downs  were  prepared,  and  we  viewed 
with  great  satisfaction  the  arrangements  for  a  good  night's 
rest.  Our  slumbers  were  guarded  by  five  vigilant  parti 
sans,  sitting  cross  kneed  with  leveled  revolvers.  Twice 
during  the  night  I  was  aroused  by  the  ceremony  of 
changing  guard,  but  found  them  always  on  the  alert,  a 
pistol  being  brought  to  bear  upon  me  the  moment  my  eyes 
opened.  They  were  withal  courteous  enough,  except  that 
they  would  inflict  upon  us  their  views  on  the  secession  and 
war  questions,  and  scoff  at  the  folly  of  attempting  to  conquer 
the  South,  and  while  treating  us  with  no  small  degree  of 
deference,  would  assert  their  profound  contempt  for  Yankees 
universally. 

Next  morning,  after  a  breakfast  the  precise  counterpart 
of  supper,  and  which  I  hold  in  grateful  remembrance  to 
this  day,  and  reverted  to  in  imagination  many  a  time  during 
subsequent  days  of  short  commons,  the  parson  politely  but 
firmly  demanded  our  watches,  and  other  articles  of  personal 
property,  which  were  handed  over  with  no  little  reluctance 
and  indignation.  Seeming  to  think  that  some  apology  was 
necessary  for  conduct  so  plainly  in  violation  of  both  clerical 
and  military  character,  he  explained  that  hia  loss  had  been 
very  great,  and  "  that  it  was  his  only  means  of  making  him 
self  whole."  Besides,  he  remarked,  if  he  did  not  get  the 
plunder  it  would  be  taken  from  us  in  Richmond,  and  he 
might  as  well  have  it  as  the  officials  there,  who  were  all 
thieves  and  rascals.  Well,  perhaps  the  parson  was  right.  He 
certainly  estimated  his  Richmond  friends  at  the  true  stand 
ard  of  morality. 

From  these   people  we  learned   the  particulars  of  Dahl- 
10 


114  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

gren's  fate.1  His  body  was  found  perforated  with  five 
bullets,  and  his  death  had  been  instantaneous.  One  of  them, 
a  physician,  an  intelligent,  and  in  appearance,  respectable 
man,  assured  me  that  the  remains  were  buried  in  a  decent 
manner.  He  said  that  the  best  joiner  in  the  neighborhood 
had  been  employed  to  make  the  coffin,  which  was  of  stained 
wood,  the  best  material  available.  He  also  stated  that  it 
was  the  universal  wish  to  give  a  fitting  burial  to  so  gallant 
a  soldier.  It  was  an  after  thought  which  doubtless  euiiuated 
from  Richmond,  to  disinter,  and  heap  wrath  and  indignity 
upon  the  senseless  corpse  of  a  dauntless  foe.  We  were 
subsequently  informed  that  the  body  had  been  mutilated 
before  burial  by  a  Lieut.  Hart,  7th  Virginia  cavalry,  who 
severed  one  of  the  fingers  to  possess  himself  of  a  valuable 
ring  worn  by  the  colonel;  but  the  act  was  regarded  as  so 
disgraceful,  that  several  soldiers  of  the  same  regiment  who 
witnessed  the  act  and  informed  us  of  it,  said  that  the 
scoundrel  deserved  to  be  shot. 

After  breakfast  Friday  morning,  March  4th,  we  were 
turned  over  to  Capt.  Magruder  of  the  cavalry,  who  escorted 
us  to  Richmond,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  where  we  arrived 
Saturday  evening,  footsore  and  hungry,  to  be  transferred  to 
the  tender  mercies  of  Major  Thomas  P.  Turner,  and  his 


1  As  our  book  goes  to  press  (November,  1865)  we  find  a  telegram 
in  the  papers,  relating  to  the  remains  of  Col.  Dablgren,  which  we 
gladly  insert  in  our  pages.  The  search  for  his  remains  was  long 
and  earnest,  and  finally  successful.  "  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  Nov. 
1st.  The  remains  of  Col.  Ulric  Dahlgren  laid  in  state  in  Inde 
pendence  Hall  during  the  night  and  the  funeral  took  place  this 
morning.  Among  the  distinguished  mourners  were  Admiral 
Dahlgren,  Generals  Meade  and  Humphries  and  Major  Henry." 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  115 

fellow  Samaritan,  Inspector  Dick  Turner,  who  provided  us 
with  a  dungeon  in  the  cellar  of  Libby  Prison,  where  we 
were  considerately  informed  we  should  remain  until 
arrangements  were  completed  to  hang  us. 

It  would  be  improper  to  conclude  this  paper  without 
alluding  to  the  good  conduct  of  the  men  of  the  Fifth  New 
York.  Through  the  entire  raid  their  behavior  elicited  fre 
quent  and  earnest  commendation  from  Col.  Dahlgren,  and 
reflected  credit  upon  the  regiment.  But  all  connected  with 
the  expedition  did  their  duty  well,  and  if  gallantry  or 
endurance  could  have  won  success  they  would  not  have 
failed  to  grasp  it.  All  entered  ardently  into  the  spirit  of 
the  enterprise,  inspired  by  the  example  of  the  "  one  legged 
colonel,"  whose  noble  memory  no  Rebel  vandal  can  ever 
mutilate  or  tarnish. 

Casualties  of  the  5th  N.  Y.  Cavalry. 

Lieut.  II.  A.  D.  Merritt,  Co.K,  captured,  escaped  from  prison,  Co 
lumbia,  S.  C.,  November  28,  1864. 

Corp.  Alfred  Richards,  Co.  I,  captured,  survived,  and  was  exch'd. 

Pvt.  Charles  F.  Smith,   "    "         "  "  "        "         " 

"      John  A.  Luudin,     "    "         "  "  "         "         " 

Corp.  George  Munroe,     "   K,        "  '  "  "        "         " 

Pvt.  John  Phillips,          "    "         "  "  "        "         " 

"      James  D.  Dowd,      "    "         "  "  '«        "         " 

"      David  Howe,           ."    "         "  "  "        "         " 

"      Franz  Briell,           "    "         "  "  "        "         « 

Sgt.   John  Hardy,           "    I,         ««  died  at  Andersonville,  Qa. 

Pvt.  Frank  Wood,           "    '«         ««  "     "               ««                " 

«'      Herman  Harmes,    ««    ««         "  "     "               «<                " 

Farrier  James  Welsh,     4<    K,        "  "     ««               "                 " 

Pvt.  George  Tresch,        "    "         "  "     «'               "                " 

March  <ith.  A  detail  of  the  regiment  for  picket  remained 


116  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

here  when  the  raiders  left.  To-day  they  were  attacked 
near  Fields'  Ford,  by  bushwhackers,  and  severely  handled. 

March  \\th.  Our  pickets  were  again  attacked  near 
Southard's  Cross  Roads,  but  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy 
away,  after  a  brief  engagement. 

March  \2th.  Just  before  dark,  our  weary  raiders  returned 
to  camp,  making  the  hills  resound  with  their  shouts  of  joy. 
From  them  we  learn  the  following  particulars.  Kilpatrick 
moved  his  command  rapidly,  reaching  the  fortifications  of 
Richmond  in  the  afternoon  of  March  1st.  A  vigorous 
attack  was  made  on  these  fortified  lines,  while  the  general 
waited  to  hear  from  Dahlgren,  who,  by  the  perfidy  of  a 
guide,  failed  to  fulfill  his  part  of  the  programme.  At  night 
Kilpatrick  withdrew,  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  Meadow 
Bridge,  and,  in  the  midst  of  a  drizzling  storm  of  sleet  and 
hail,  bivouacked  with  his  weary  troopers.  Scarcely  had 
the  bivouac  fires  begun  to  illuminate  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  when  Hampton's  Legions  made  a  desperate  attack 
upon  our  forces.  All  that  dreary  night  our  men  marched, 
and,  continuing  their  journey  the  next  day,  they  passed  by 
Old  Church,  where  they  scattered  the  last  band  of  Rebels 
that  hung  upon  their  rear.  The  march  was  continued 
down  the  Peninsula.  Annoyed  only  occasionally  by  bush 
whackers  on  their  way,  our  boys  finally  found  safety  and 
rest  in  the  department  of  General  Btrtler,  near  Yorktown. 
The  division  was  brought  in  transports  to  Alexandria, 
whence  it  marched  to  its  camps  at  Stevensburg. 

March  ~L4:th.  The  veterans  left  this  morning  for  home  on 
their  thirty-five  days'  furloughs.  They  were  a  happy  com 
pany. 

April  22d.     Our  division   of  cavalry,  with  a  large  force 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  119 

of  infantry,  appeared  in  review  before  Lieut.  General 
Grant,  on  the  Plains  of  Stevensburg.  The  army  is  very 
enthusiastic  over  its  corumander-in-chief.  Some  change 
has  recently  taken  place  in  our  cavalry.  Gen.  Kilpatrick 
has  been  assigned  to  a  larger  command  in  the  west,  and  Gen. 
John  H.  Wilson  succeeds  him.  Gen.  Davies  is  also  removed 
to  some  other  position,  and  Col.  Mclntosh  commands  the 
first  brigade,  which  is  now  composed  of  the  18th  Pennsyl 
vania,  1st  Connecticut,  2d  New  York,  and  5th  New  York. 

April  29th.  Orders  were  issued  early  this  morning  to 
break  up  winter  quarters,  preparatory  to  the  campaign, 
which  is  about  to  open.  The  regiment  moved  about  half  a 
mile,  near  brigade  headquarters,  which  are  in  the  house  of 
a  Mr.  Ross. 

May  "Id.  The  day  had  been  fine  until  about  five  P.  M., 
\vith  only  an  occasional  cloud,  which  floated  lazily  through 
the  sky.  At  this  time  a  terrible  commotion  of  the  elements 
was  observed  in  the  west,  and  heavy  clouds  of  dust  arose 
from  the  hills  about  Culpepper,  and  swept  down  over  the 
plains  in  the  direction  of  our  camps.  In  an  incredibly 
short  time  from  its  appearance,  the  tornado  struck  us,  with 
a  fury  and  force  seldom  witnessed.  Scarcely  a  tent  was  left 
standing,  while  pieces  of  tents,  shelters,  boards,  articles  of 
clothing,  papers,  &c.,  were  flying  on  the  wings  of  the  wind. 
At  times  the  dust  suffocated  and  blinded  us.  Horses  broke 
loose  from  their  fastenings  and  ran  about  in  wild  dismay. 
Men  laughed  at  each  other's  calamities  or  ran  to  each 
other's  relief.  This  carnival  of  winds  continued  about  twenty 
minutes,  and  was  followed  by  a  cold  rain,  which  fell  upon  our 
unsheltered  heads.  With  much  difficulty  some  shelters  were 
replaced,  and  a  tolerable  night's  rest  was  enjoyed. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Army  of  the  Potomac.  —  Good  Condition. — First  Steps  of  the 
Great  Campaign  under  Gen.  Grant.  — The  Fifth  New  York  opens 
the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness  at  Parker's  Store. — Detailed  at  Army 
Headquarters.  —  Scenes  at  the  Hospital.  —  Lines  of  Battle.  — 
Second  Day.  —  Lee  breaks  our  Lines  twice. — Is  Repulsed. — 
Col.  Hammond  Ordered  to  Germania  Ford.  — Is  Placed  in  Com 
mand  of  Provisional  Brigade  of  Cavalry. — Brings  up  Rear  on 
First  Left  Flank  Movement.  • —  Skirmishes  on  the  Ny  and  Po 
Rivers. —  Affair  at  the  Maitapony.  — Sergeant  Sortore  Killed. — 
His  Burial.  —  Battle  of  Milford  Station.  —  A  Stratagem  at  Little 
River.  —  Vast  Forests  of  Virginia.  —  Battle  of  Ashland  Station 
—  Dark,  Muddy  March  along  the  Pamunkey — Tedious  March  in 
Rear  of  a  Supply  Train.  —  Men  Sleep  on  their  Horses.  —  At 
Charles  City  C.  H.  —  Fight  at  White  Oak  Swamps.  —May  M 
to  June  IGth,  1864. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  never  been  in  as  good 
condition  as  Gen.  Grant  found  it  in  the  spring  of  1864. 
All  winter  long  its  ranks  had  been  filling  up,  and  its  drill 
grounds  around  the  camps  had  been  thoroughly  trodden. 
"  Numbers  and  thorough  discipline"  had  been  the  motto  of 
its  masters.  The  rank  and  file  were  largely  made  up  of 
veterans,  who  had  seen  service  for  three  years  of  hard  cam 
paigning,  and  who  had  reenlisted  for  three  years  more,  if 
their  services  were  needed  all  that  time.  This  was  a  great 
element  of  power.  The  supplies  from  the  quartermaster 
and  commissary  departments  were  abundant  and  generally 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  121 

satisfactory.  Great  confidence  was  reposed  in  our  military 
leaders,  who  had  shown  themselves  worthy  of  the  positions 
they  occupied.  The  Lieutenant  General,  under  whose  im 
mediate  superintendence  this  army  was  about  to  move,  was 
everywhere  received  with  the  most  enthusiastic  applause, 
while  no  one  doubted  but  that  he  could  plan  a  campaign 
and  execute  its  movements  with  an  ability  equal  to  any 
general  of  the  age. 

Such  was  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  the  3d  of  May, 
when  it  received  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at  12  o'clock 
that  night.  Day  by  day,  as  we  had  watched  the  smoke 
ascending  from  the  camp  fires  of  the  Rebel  army  just  across 
the  rapid  river,  we  had  gathered  fresh  inspiration ;  and  we 
knew  that  but  a  short  journey  would  bring  us  face  to  face 
with  our  confident  enemy,  whom  we  expected  to  drive  be 
fore  us. 

The  order  for  preparation  to  move  was  obeyed  readily 
throughout  our  canips,  and  but  a  few  minutes  past  12  at 
night  the  bugles  sounded  '  To  Horse,"  and  the  cavalrymen 
were  ready  for  the  march.  The  third  division  moved  down 
to  Germania  Ford,  where  it  forded  the  stream  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  4th,  and  the  rising  sun  shone  upon  its  flags, 
already  borne  over  earthworks  which  the  enemy  had  used 
on  former  occasions,  but  which  we  now  found  deserted. 
The  enemy's  plan  seems  to  have  been  this — to  place  no 
obstacle  to  our  advance,  and  when  the  army  was  fairly 
across  the  river,  and  had  entered  the  wilderness  country,  to 
fall  upon  it,  break  its  ranks,  and  compel  a  hasty  and  disas 
trous  retreat.  But  in  this  he  had  mistaken  his  subjects,  as 
the  sequel  proved. 

The  cavalry  advanced   on  the  plank  road  toward   Chan- 


122  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

cellorsville,  just  beyond  Wilderness  Tavern,  where  the  plank 
road  from  Orange  Court  House  intercepts  this.  Here  the 
Fifth  New  York  was  detached  from  the  division  and  ordered 
to  proceed  to  Parker's  store,  where  it  was  to  establish  a 
strong  line  of  pickets.  Meanwhile  the  cavalry  corps,  now 
under  command  of  Gen.  Sheridan,  set  out  on  a  grand  raid 
toward  Ilichmond,  often  meeting  and  defeating  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  and  killing  its  chief,  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart. 

May  5th.  Occasional  shots  were  fired  during  the  night, 
and,  at  the  break  of  clay,  a  heavy  column  of  Rebel  infantry 
made  its  appearance  on  our  front.  The  whole  line  soon 
became  desperately  engaged.  This  was  the  first  blow  of 
the  great  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  For  this  honor  the 
regiment  paid  dearly.  Having  sent  word  to  General 
Meade  that  a  heavy  column  of  infantry  was  advancing,  and 
that  he  would  "  check  them  as  long  as  possible,"  Col. 
Hammond  kept  the  regiment  well  in  line,  encouraging  the 
men  with  his  presence  and  action.  Many  of  the  men  were 
dismounted,  and  their  Spencer  carbines  made  the  dense 
woods  ring,  and  told  with  fearful  effect  upon  the  enemy. 
Prisoners,  afterwards  captured  from  this  attacking  division, 
swore  that  a  whole  brigade  must  have  been  in  their  front. 
Fighting  with  a  daring  rarely  equaled,  and  compelled  to  fall 
back  before  superior  numbers,  we  nevertheless  held  them  at 
bay  for  five  hours,  until  relieved  by  a  portion  of  the  6th 
Corps.  Our  service  had  been  most  important  to  our  army, 
but  the  regiment  had  suffered  a  loss  of  13  killed,  22 
wounded,  and  24  known  to  have  been  captured,  besides  15  or 
20  from  whom  tidings  have  never  since  been  heard.  They 
were  probably  killed.  Among  those  known  to  have  been  killed 
was  Captain  L.  McGuinn,  Co.  A,  a  most  gallant  young 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  123 

officer.  A  correspondent  of  the  N.  Y.  Herald  makes  his 
bow  to  the  regiment,  on  this  occasion,  and  says: 

"  The  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry  was  detached  from  Colonel 
Mclntosh's  command  for  duty  under  the  immediate  orders 
of  General  Meade.  This  was  a  compliment  well  earned  by 
its  gallant  conduct  at  Parker's  store.  It  is  under  the  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Hammond,  one  of  the  best  officers  in  the 
service." 

The  regiment  having  reported  to  General  Meade,  was 
ordered  to  bivouac  just  in  the  rear  of  the  old  Wilderness 
Tavern.  But  now  came  the  care  of  the  wounded.  In  am 
bulances,  when  they  could  be  secured,  or  on  stretchers,  they 
were  conveyed  to  the  hospital,  established  only  about  a  milo 
in  rear  of  the  line  of  battle,  at  a  small  house  in  the  woods. 
Some  of  the  poor  fellows  were  fearfully  mangled.  Private 
An»on  Jones,  Co.  A,  had  his  left  arm  completely  fractured 
from  the  elbow  to  the  shoulder.  He  died  from  the  ampu 
tation.  1st  Sergeant  Cross,  Co.  L,  had  likewise  a  broken 
arm.  Private  Charles  Westerfield,  Co.  B,  had  a  fractured 
thigh,  which,  however,  was  saved  from  the  amputating  blade. 
But  the  most  terrible  wound  to  look  upon  was  that  of  pri 
vate  John  W.  Slyter,  Co.  K.  A  ball  had  passed  through 
his  mouth,  tearing  it  out  at  least  one  inch  back  on  both 
sides,  breaking  out  most  of  his  teeth,  and  cutting  the 
tongue  down  to  the  root,  though  the  end  still  hung  to  its 
place,  a  helpless  appendage.  He  survived  the  awful  shock, 
and  was  afterwards  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps,  subse 
quently  known  as  the  Veteran  Reserve.  But  time  would 
fail  us  to  specify  even  a  hundredth  part  of  the  mutilation 
which  was  presented  at  the  hospital  on  that  terrible  day. 
In  the  deep  wilderness  the  battle  was  raging  fiercely. 


124  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

From  the  battle  line  to  the  hospital  was  constantly  passing 
a  train  of  ambulances  laden  with  our  suffering  comrades, 
wounded  in  every  conceivable  manner  from  the  crown  of  the 
head  to  the  soles  of  the  feet.  Occasionally  a  groan  escaped 
from  some  poor  dying  fellow,  whose  last  word  or  little  token 
of  remembrance,  such  as  a  daily  perused  Testament,  or  cher 
ished  portrait,  had  been  deposited  with  some  more  fortunate 
comrade  to  be  sent  to  friends  far  away,  to  testify  that  even 
in  death  they  were  not  forgotten.  Remarkable,  however,  is 
the  stillness  of  the  hospital.  How  calmly  the  brave  boys 
endure  the  wounds  received  in  defense  of  their  beloved 
country  !  How  cheerfully  even  they  approach  the  amputat 
ing  table,  to  awake  from  the  operation  with  the  painful 
consciousness  of  loss  of  limbs,  which  no  artificer  can 
fully  replace. 

Now  and  then  there  comes  from  the  battle  fiel<}.  a 
wounded  man  who  is  able  to  walk,  and  who  supports  with 
one  hand  its  bloody,  mangled  mate.  At  times,  two  men 
may  be  seen  approaching,  supporting  between  them  their  less 
fortunate  companion,  whose  bloody  garments  tell  that  he  had 
faced  the  foe.  By  every  means  possible  our  wounded  were 
brought  from  the  field  of  carnage  to  be  cared  for  at  the 
hospital,  but  in  the  vast  multitude  of  disabled  ones  many 
were  left,  who  afterwards  suffered  from  fires  which  broke  out 
and  ran  far  and  wide  among  the  dry  leaves  of  the  woods. 

The  line  of  battle  to-day  was  somewhat  in  the  form  of  a 
horseshoe,  General  Grant  having  the  inner  circle.  His 
headquarters,  near  General  Meade's,  were  well  up  toward 
our  extreme  right.  General  Lee's  attack  was  mostly  on  the 
extreme  wings,  but  with  greater  fury  on  our  left.  Amid 
the  roaring  of  the  musketry,  which  continued  till  late  at 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  125 

night,  the  regiment  sought  rest  not  a  mile  from  the  line  of 
battle,  near  our  left  flank. 

May  6th.  The  opening  day  looked  on  the  renewal  of  tho 
conflict.  Each  antagonist,  rousing  every  slumbering  element 
of  power,  seemed  resolved  upon  victory  or  death.  All  day 
long  they  struggled  for  the  mastery.  So  dense  was  the 
forest  where  they  fought,  that  artillery  could  scarcely  be 
used,  and  the  lines  of  battle  were  only  a  few  yards  apart. 
About  noon  General  Lee  threw  a  heavy  force  upon  our  left 
with  the  design  of  turning  our  position.  The  onset  was 
partially  successful.  The  9th  corps  (General  Burnside's)  re 
ceived  the  shock,  and  was  broken ;  but  the  repulse  was  only 
momentary.  Bringing  up  his  reserve  and  gathering  his 
broken  lines,  the  general  hurled  them  against  the  exultant 
foe.  driving  him  back,  and  regaining  the  ground  which  had 
been  lost. 

Gen.  Lee,  having  failed  upon  our  left,  repeated  the 
operation  with  redoubled  fury,  upon  our  right,  just  at  night. 
His  endeavor,  for  a  time,  gave  promise  of  success.  The 
old  Gth  corps,  in  which  the  utmost  confidence  had  been 
placed  by  the  commanding  general,  was  posted  in  this  im 
portant  position.  Notwithstanding  its  former  prestige,  it 
could  not  withstand  the  terrible  blows  that  were  dealt  upon 
it.  For  a  time,  the  rout  that  followed  threatened  disaster. 
General  Grant's  headquarters  were  soon  within  musket 
range  of  the  advancing  Rebels,  and  doubtless  would  have 
been  removed  to  a  safer  place,  had  not  the  general  "  resolved 
to  fight  it  out  on  this  line."  His  band  was  quickly  advanced 
in  the  woods  as  far  as  possible,  where  it  struck  up  Yankee 
Poodle.  Inspired  by  the  notes,  which  sounded  clearly  on 
the  evening  air,  our  men  were  reformed,  and,  with  a  wild 


126  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

shout  of  battle,  they  charged  the  enemy,  and  drove  him 
back  to  his  former  lines. 

The  regiment  had  been  ordered  from  the  left  to  the  right 
wing,  just  in  time  to  prevent  the  stragglers  from  our  broken 
lines  passing  far  to  the  rear.  After  our  position  was 
reestablished  we  rested  for  the  night. 

May  1th.  Early  this  morning,  the  following  order  was 
received  : 

HEADQUARTERS,  6th  Army  Corps,  \ 
May  7th,  1864.    / 

COL.  HAMMOND,  Commanding  5th  N.  Y.  Cavalry : 

Gen.  Sedgwick  directs  (in  accordance  with  orders  from 
headquarters  Army  Potomac  and  General  Grant)  that  you 
move  forward  and  remain  as  far  as  possible  near  Germania 
Ford,  and  report  immediately  any  movements  of  the  enemy. 
Be  sure  that  no  force  of  the  enemy  crosses  the  plank  road 
without  notifying  General  Sedgwick  at  once. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Sedgwick, 

C.  A.  WHITTEN, 
Major  and  A.  A.  A.  G. 

The  regiment  marched  to  the  ford  on  receiving  the  order, 
and  picketed  the  road,  with  two  other  cavalry  regiments, 
which  we  found  posted  on  arriving.  At  2  p.  M.  an  attack 
was  made  with  cavalry  and  light  artillery,  on  the  two  regi 
ments  above  mentioned.  They  broke  and  fled,  exposing 
our  left,  thus  compelling  us  also  to  fall  back,  which  we  did 
quite  rapidly  down  the  river,  nearly  as  far  as  Ely's  Ford. 
On  our  way  toward  the  plank  road  again,  at  no  great  dis 
tance  from  the  river,  Colonel  Hammond  received  another 
order. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  127 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  6th  Army  Corps,  1 
May  7th,  1864.  / 

Commanding  Officer  of  22d  N.  Y.  and  2d  Ohio  Cavalry  : 

You  will  report  immediately  to  Lt,  Col.  Hammond,  Fifth 
New  York  Cavalry,  who  is  hereby  ordered  to  take  command 
of  all  the  cavalry  on  the  Germania  plank  road. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Sedgwick, 

C.  A.  WRITTEN, 
Major  and  A.  A.  A.  Gr. 

Having  made  such  disposition  of  his  command  as  was 
necessary  to  check  any  further  advance  of  the  enemy,  Col. 
Hammond  moved  the  regiment,  near  the  spot  where  we 
bivouacked  last  night,  arriving  late.  While  we  were  cook 
ing  our  suppers  by  our  bivouac  fires,  suddenly  the  wilder 
ness  before  us  became  vocal  with  deafening  cheers,  extending 
up  and  down  our  vast  army  lines.  Lee  had  been  outgene 
raled,  his  lines  driven  back,  his  right  almost  broken,  and 
Grant  was  prepared  for  his  first  left  flank  movement.  Be 
fore  we  slept,  still  another  important  order  was  received. 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  6th  Corps,  > 
May  7th,  1864.  / 

COL.  HAMMOND,  Commanding  Cavalry  : 

You  will  please  remain  with  your  command  near  the  old 
Wilderness  Tavern,  until  you  are  notified  by  Maj.  Gen. 
Hancock,  that  his  corps  and  pickets  are  withdrawn.  Gen. 
Hancock's  pickets  are  to  be  withdrawn  at  2  A.  M.  (two 
o'clock  A.  M.)  Upon  being  so  notified  you  will  follow  the 
2d  Corps. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Sedgwick, 

C.  A.  WHITTEN, 
Major  and  A.  A.  A.  G-. 
11 


128  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

May  8th.  The  night  had  been  occupied  in  removing  the 
wounded  to  Fredericksburg.  But  for  want  of  transporta 
tion, — so  great  was  the  number  of  wounded, —  a  considerable 
number  of  the  worst  ones,  who  probably  could  not  have 
borne  the  journey,  and  others,  were  left  behind.  A  surgeon 
and  a  corps  of  nurses  were  ordered  to  remain  with  them. 
The  remains  of  those  hospitals  presented  one  of  the  most 
sickening  sights  ever  witnessed.  Here  were  some  recent 
dead,  some  dying,  and  some  of  the  most  mangled  and  torn 
which  the  battle  leaves  living.  Resigned  to  their  fate  we 
left  them  to  move  forward  to  other  scenes  of  conflict.  As 
soon  as  we  had  fallen  back  they  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands. 
About  eight  o'clock  our  rear  guard  left  old  Wilderness 
Tavern,  and  moved  on  to  Chaucellorsville,  which  became 
our  extreme  right  wing. 

May  9th.  Sent  out  on  a  reconnoissance  to  Ely's  Ford. 
Returned  to  Chancellorsville  to  bivouac  at  night. 

May  10th.  Our  horses  had  long  been  denied  their  usual 
allowance, —  in  fact,  we  had  been  without  grain  for  several 
days.  We  were  compelled  to  search  for  the  best  grazing 
the  country  afforded,  which  we  found  near  Mr.  McGee's,  on 
the  Fredericksburg  road.  At  night  we  were  ordered  on 
picket  at  the  Old  Foundry. 

May  11th.  Returned  to  McGee's  to  graze  our  horses  and 
bivouac. 

May  12th.  Moved  to  Chancellorsville.  and  found  grazing  in 
the  neighborhood.  The  fields  and  woods  show  signs  of 
Hooker's  great  battle  here  a  year  ago.  Bodies  and  bones 
of  unburied  men,  and  of  those  only  partially  buried,  may  be 
found  on  every  hand. 

May  l±th.  All  these  days  the  grand  army  has  been  fighting 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  129 

about  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  Just  at  night  the  regi 
ment  marched  through  terrible  mud  and  dark  forests,  near 
army  headquarters,  not  far  from  Spottsylvania. 

May  15th.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  extreme  left. 
Grazed  our  horses  near  Massaponax  Run,  and  advanced  near 
the  church  that  bears  this  name,  where  we  had  a  slight 
brush  with  the  enemy. 

May  16^7i.  Advanced  beyond  the  church,  and  drove  the 
enemy's  cavalry  across  the  Ny  river,  after  a  lively  skirmish. 
A  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  was  found  on  our  front. 

May  17th.  The  following  order  in  General  Meade's  own 
handwriting  was  received  and  preserved  : 

Headquarters.  Army  of  the  Potomac,  "> 
1,  30p.M.,  May  17th,  1864.  f 

COL.  HAMMOND,  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry : 

Colonel:  Your  dispatch  reporting  a  superior  force  of  the 
enemy  at  Guineas  Station  received.  I  send  you  Lieut. 
Col.  Chamberlain,  1st  Massachusetts,  with  1,200  men  from 
Dismounted  camp.  You  will  take  command  of  these  men 
and  endeavor  to  drive  back  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  destroy 
the  depot  at  Guineas.  Also  advance  on  their  right  flank 
and  ascertain  all  you  can  of  the  enemy's  position  and  force. 

Respectfully  Yours, 

GEO.  G.  MEADE, 
Major  General. 

Among  the  men  above  mentioned  were  about  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  of  our  veterans.  This  combined  force 
advanced  as  ordered,  and  found  the  enemy  strongly  posted 
on  the  banks  of  the  Po  river.  A  severely  contested  engage 
ment  followed,  in  which  we  lost  Capt,  Bryant  (captured, 


130  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

though  at  first  supposed  killed),  and  others.  The  main 
force  returned  to  its  bivouac,  and  the  Fifth  spent  the  night 
on  picket. 

.  May  1.8th.  Another  reconnoissance  was  made  to  the  Po, 
where  the  enemy  still  continues  in  force.  A  short  skirmish 
followed.  Our  men  returned  unhurt. 

May  19^/i.  Orders  were  received  this  afternoon  to  be 
ready  to  move  at  eleven  at  night.  The  column  of  cavalry, 
with  a  battery  of  artillery,  moved  out  precisely  at  the  hour, 
in  the  direction  of  Bowling  Green.  Having  gone  about 
four  miles,  the  main  column  was  countermarched,  though 
the  Fifth  continued  to  near  Fredericksburg,  and  returned, 
traveling  all  night. 

May  20th.  At  noon  our  mail  arrived,  the  first  we  have 
received  since  the  campaign  opened.  There  were  at  least 
two  bushels  of  letters  !  And  what  eager  boys  waited  for 
the  home  messages,  as  each  company's  mail  was  being 
sorted  out !  Scarcely  a  man  but  had  a  letter,  and  some 
had  ten  or  twelve.  A  large  mail  was  sent  away  before 
night.  Orders  were  received  this  p.  M.  to  be  ready  to  move 
for  the  accomplishment  of  the  task  which  was  abandoned 
last  night. 

May  2~Lst.  Expecting  to  move  in  the  night  the  men 
had  sought  an  early  sleep,  as  usual,  upon  the  lap  of  earth, 
from  which  they  were  aroused  about  one  o'clock,  and  were 
soon  on  the  march.  The  night  was  pleasant.  A  few  shots 
with  scattered  pickets  were  exchanged  on  the  way,  until  we 
reached  the  Mattapony  river,  at  a  point  below  Guineas 
Station,  where  the  road  on  which  we  were  marching  crosses 
the  rail  road.  Here  quite  a  force  of  the  enemy  made  its 
appearance.  The  day  had  now  dawned.  The  Fifth  New 


^  -^ 


I  J|t 

O   S'^M 

g  l^s 

§    Silt 


fco  2  60.5 

t?t? 


^  *sj 


CO       CC 


OQ 


H 

^ 

-1 

..f 

H 

• 
A 

e 

I 

~ 

.•• 

I 

w 

_ 
A 

M 

OG 

1 

g 

P^ 

I 

f. 

C 

c' 
9 

a  Us 


f^8£ 
«£^§ 


IS11 

rs& 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  133 

York  had  the  advance.  Flankers  were  sent  out,  and  the 
advance  guard  was  placed  in  command  of  1st  Sergt.  S.  W. 
Sortore,  Company  E,  who  moved  boldly  forward.  Enter 
ing  the  woods,  which  skirt  the  river,  along  whose  banks 
runs  the  road  to  Bowling  Green,  another  road  was  found 
turning  to  the  right  across  the  river,  which  the  fleeing 
Rebels  had  taken.  The  sergeant  advanced  to  cross  the 
bridge,  but  found  that  a  portion  of  it  had  been  removed, 
rendering  it  impassable.  He  had  no  sooner  halted,  than  a 
fatal  bullet  from  a  Rebel,  concealed  in  the  thicket  beyond, 
pierced  his  manly  breast.  In  less  than  fifteen  minutes  he 
was  dead.  Wrapped  up  in  his  blanket,  we  buried  him 
under  a  beautiful  swamp  willow,  only  a  few  of  his  many 
friends  being  permitted  to  assist  in  his  burial.  While  this 
was  being  done,  the  bridge  had  been  rebuilt,  companies  A 
and  13  had  been  sent  out  to  drive  the  Rebels  back  and 
picket  this  road,  and  the  column  had  passed  on  toward 
Bowling  Green.  A  short  halt  was  made  in  this  pleasant 
little  village;  and  the  column  moved  again  to  Milford 
Station,  which  was  taken  after  a  severe  engagement.  The 
regiment  behaved  handsomely  in  this  fight,  which  resulted 
in  the  capture  of  six  officers  and  sixty-six  privates,  and  the 
dispersion  of  the  entire  force  which  guarded  the  station. 
In  the  depot  were  found  some  stores  of  the  Rebel  quarter 
master  and  commissary,  which  were  readily  appropriated. 

On  the  ground  whence  we  had  driven  the  enemy  by  hard 
fighting,  we  built  our  bivouac  fires  and  rested. 

May  22<7.  About  3  p.  M.  we  were  ordered  to  New  Bethel 
Church,  across  the  Mattapony,  where  we  found  excellent 
grazing  for  our  horses.  * 

May  23J.  "Boots  and  saddles"  sounded  at  three  o'clock, 


HISTORIC  BECORDS. 

and  by  daylight  the  column  was  in  motion,  toward  Hanover 
Junction.  Not  Tar  from  the  North  Anna  river,  just  below 
Mt.  Carrnel  Church,  the  enemy  in  force  was  encountered. 
A  desperate  fight  ensued,  which  resulted  in  a  general  en 
gagement,  during  which  the  Rebels  were  driven  from  their 
strong  position  along  the  North  Anna.  The  battle  contin 
ued  till  nine  o'clock  at  night,  ending  with  a  terrible 
cannonade. 

May  2±th.  We  were  ordered  to  the  extreme  right,  where, 
after  crossing  the  North  Anna,  we  had  a  flying  skirmish 
with  the  enemy's  cavalry. 

May  25th.  The  regiment  reconnoitred  the  enemy's  po 
sition  on  the  Little  river.  Fell  back  from  the  river  to  the 
Virginia  Central  rail  road,  which  our  men  are  effectually 
destroying.  The  fire  of  the  ties,  culverts  and  bridges  makes 
a  line  of  lurid  light  along  the  evening  sky. 

May  2Gth.  We  rested  in  bivouac  until  about  sundown, 
when  we  were  joined  by  the  division,  just  returned  from 
Sheridan's  great  raid,  which  commenced  with  the  opening 
of  the  campaign.  At  night  we  skirmished  with  the  enemy 
at  some  of  the  upper  fords  of  the  Little  river,  and  made  a 
feint  of  crossing.  To  complete  the  deception,  fences,  boards, 
and  everything  inflamable  within  our  reach,  were  set  on 
fire  to  give  the  appearance  of  a  vast  force,  just  building  its 
bivouac  fires. 

While  we  were  thus  making  a  feint  of  lively  work  on  the 
right,  and  keeping  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  General 
Grant  effected  his  third  left  flank  movement,  which  brought 
his  base  of  supplies  at  White  House  Landing. 

After  the  accomplishment  of  our  stratagem  we  fell  back, 
crossed  the  North  Anna  river  on  a  bridge,  which  we  de- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  135 

stroyed  behind  us,  and   bivouacked,  about   two    hours  past 
midnight. 

May  27th.  Three  or  four  hours  only  had  the  weary  boys 
to  rest,  and  the  bugles  sounded  the  advance.  Over  vast 
plains,  generally  thickly  wooded,  the  column  passed,  and, 
after  seeing  the  smoking  ruins  of  Chesterfield  Station,  it 
halted  for  another  rest.  As  we  travel  from  point  to  point 
over  this  Old  Dominion  we  are  peculiarly  impressed  with  the 
vastness  of  its  forests,  which  cover  thousands  of  acres  of  as 
fine  arable  land  as  can  be  found  upon  the  continent.  How 
different  is  this  from  the  impressions  we  had  formed  of 
Virginia  when  reading  of  its  early  settlement,  and  of  its 
agricultural  advantages.  But  when  we  look  into  its  system 
of  land  owning — wherein  we  find  one  individual  monopo 
lizing  a  vast  territory ,; — and  into  its  worse  system  of  labor, 
we  need  search  no  further  for  the  causes  of  this  backward 
ness  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Who  does  not  sincerely  hope 
that  the  time  is  at  hand  when  the  rich  acres  of  this  great 
state  shall  be  more  properly  divided  among  its  inhabitants, 
and.  when  freed  from  a  burden  and  curse  which  has  long 
paralyzed  their  energies,  instinct  with  new  life  and  enter 
prise,  the  people  will  realize  the  true  dignity  of  labor. 
Then  will  the  almost  interminable  forests  disappear,  and  in 
their  places  the  industrious  yeoman  will  behold  his  rich 
fields  of  waving  grain.  Then  too,  along  its  now  useless 
streams  and  swift  water  courses,  will  spring  up  the  factory 
and  the  mill,  whose  fabrics  will  bring  wealth  and  prospe 
rity  to  the  nation. 

Nay  2$th.  Our  march  was  resumed  at  an  early  hour,  and 
continued  as  usual  through  vast  woods,  with  only  here  and 
there  a  plantation.  For  want  of  forage  and  rest,  many 


136  HISTORIC  RECORDS.' 

horses  gave  out  by  the  way.  It  is  wonderful  how  long  these 
faithful  animals  carry  their  riders  with  their  kit,  even  after 
overtaxation  of  muscles  has  nearly  destroyed  them.  On 
they  plod,  fearful  of  being  abandoned  by  their  mates,  until 
strength  has  entirely  departed,  and  they  quiver  beneath 
their  load,  and  would  fall,  if  not  relieved. 

On  a  march  like  this,  these  "played  out"  horses  are 
invariably  shot,  lest  they  might  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  and,  in  a  few  weeks  of  care,  become  serviceable. 

The  column  halted  for  the  night  at  a  small  settlement 
called  Mangohick,  where  a  good  rest  was  enjoyed. 

May  29/7*.  A  pleasant  march  brought  us  at  an  early  hour 
to  Locust  Grove,  near  the  Pamunkey  river.  Some  corn  was 
foraged  from  the  surrounding  country  for  our  horses. 

May  80th.  Gradually,  by  almost  constant  fighting,  our 
noble  army  has  been  advancing  through  the  enemy's 
country,  until  to-day  our  artillery  is  plunging  its  shells 
very  near  the  door  of  the  Rebel  -capitol.  Our  forces  have 
taken  possession  of  Mechanicsville,  and  established  their 
lines  not  far  from  Cold  Harbor. 

About  ten  A.  M.  the  regiment  was  detailed  to  march  to 
Dunkirk,  to  guard  a  supply  train,  which  was  expected. 
The  journey  was  performed  and  the  train  brought  in 
before  night. 

May  3Ist.  We  moved  early  to  Dabney's  Ferry,  where  we 
crossed  the  Pamunkey  on  pontoons,  and  advanced  toward 
Hanover  Court  House.  The  enemy's  outer  cavalry  pickets 
were  encountered  at  Signal  Hill,  whence  they  were  driven, 
after  a  lirely  skirmish.  Gen.  Rosser,  a  Rebel  cavalry 
chieftain,  here  took  a  prominent  position  against  us,  "  fight 
ing,"  in  the  language  of  his  friends,  "  for  his  altars  and  his 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  137 

fires."  His  residence  was  in  the  neighborhood.  So  was 
also  that  of  Gen.  Wickham,  another  Rebel  cavalryman. 
After  scouting  the  neighborhood,  and  picketing  the  main 
roads,  till  dark,  the  whole  division  was  moved  toward 
Hanover  Cotlrt  House. 

June  1st.  The  enemy  strongly  contested  our  advance, 
and  quite  a  skirmish  was  fought  at  the  Court  House.  In 
the  early  morning  this  force  was  driven,  and  the  division 
moved  on  to  Ashland  Station  on  the  Virginia  Central  rail 
road.  The  object  of  this  move  was  to  destroy  the  two  rail 
road  bridges  across  the  South  Anna  river.  The  second 
brigade  was  sent  to  do  this  work  of  destruction,  while  the 
first  was  to  engage  the  enemy.  The  plan  succeeded,  but  a 
fierce  battle  was  fought  at  Ashland,  by  the  first  brigade. 
Several  times  our  boys  were  partially  surrounded ;  but  the 
ceaseless  fire  of  their  carbines  and  the  grape  and  canister 
of  the  artillery,  mowed  fearful  gaps  in  the  enemy's  lines, 
and  strewed  the  ground  with  slain.  While  gallantly  riding 
up  and  down  our  lines,  directing  the  operations  and  encour 
aging  the  men,  Major  White,  of  the  Fifth,  received  a 
dangerous  wound  through  the  body,  which  was  feared  would 
prove  fatal  to  his  valuable  life.  Col.  Hammond  received  a 
bullet,  which  flattened  upon  his  scabbard,  but  cracked  the 
bone  just  above  the  ankle  joint.  It  was  a  narrow  escape. 
When  the  force  fell  back,  Dr.  Armstrong  volunteered  to 
remain  with  Major  White,  who  could  not  be  removed.  This 
noble  act  was  never  forgotten.  Crowned  with  recent  victory 
the  division  returned  to  Signal  Hill,  and  bivouacked. 

June  'Id.  After  so  hard  fighting  and  marching  the  boys 
very  naturally  expected  a  little  rest.  Well,  they  got  a  little, 
and  a  very  little  rest  it  was.  The  time  for  an  abundance  of 


138  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

that  luxury  had  not  yet  come.  The  day  was  spent  broiling 
under  a  scorching  sun.  At  5  p.  M.,  just  as  rain  began  to 
fall,  the  bugles  sounded  for  another  move.  Compelled  to 
throw  away  preparations  for  supper,  which  could  not  be 
taken,  we  were  soon  in  line  waiting  the  word  to  march. 
The  rain  fell  faster,  and  a  cold  wind  arose,  which  made  the 
prospect  of  a  march  through  mud  and  darkness  rather  un 
pleasant.  But  wrapped  up  carefully  in  our  rubber  coats  or 
ponchoes,  the  soldier's  invaluable  garments,  from  which 
rolled  the  rain  drops  that  pattered  upon  us,  we  were  kept 
comfortably  dry  and  in  tolerably  good  humor.  However, 
the  march  was  a  hard  one.  We  moved  to  Dabney's  Ferry, 
and  turned  to  the  right  down  the  river,  arriving  at  Liuney's, 
where  we  stopped,  about  12  o'clock  that  night. 

Jane  3d.  About  10  A.  M.  firing  was  heard  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Salem  Church,  and  messengers  soon  announced  that 
the  Rebel  cavalry  had  advanced  and  attacked  our  pickets. 
The  division  was  immediately  moved  to  the  scene  of  action, 
and  the  Rebels  were  again  beaten  and  repulsed  in  a  fair  open 
field  fight.  They  had  the  advantage  of  some  hastily  con 
structed  breastworks,  from  which  our  men  drove  them  with 
a  charge.  In  this  fight  was  killed  the  gallant  Col.  Preston, 
of  the  1st  Vermont;  and  Col.  Chamberlain,  of  the  8th  New 
York,  was  wounded.  The  regiment  spent  the  night  on 
picket. 

June  4th.  After  we  were  relieved  from  picket,  this  morn 
ing,  we  bivouacked  on  an  eminence  called  Mt.  Pisgah. 
Here  a  large  mail  was  received. 

June  Qth.  We  have  passed  these  few  days  pleasantly. 
Our  horses. are  improving  on  newly  brought  forage,  and  the 
men  rejoice  in  full  rations.  Bands  of  music  have  enter- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  139 

tained  us  with  patriotic  airs  during  our  evening  hours,  and 
we  have  gained  new  strength  and  inspiration  for  coming 
labors. 

Reveille*  was  sounded  about  daylight,  and  the  regiment 
was  marched  to  Old  Church,  whence  we  were  sent  to  picket 
along  the  Paniunkey. 

June  7th.  Continued  all  day  on  picket.  The  lines  are 
quiet  and  our  work  is  pleasant. 

June  Sth.  Relieved  from  picket  by  the  3d  New  Jersey 
Cavalry,  a  regiment  that  has  quite  recently  been  assigned  to 
our  brigade.  The  regiment  moved  near  brigade  headquar 
ters,  and  went  into  camp. 

June  IQt/i.  The  whole  brigade  was  called  out  this  after 
noon  to  repel  an  attack  upon  the  pickets.  After  a  brief 
skirmish,  the  lines  were  reestablished  and  the  brigade 
returned  into  camp.  A  brigade  of  colored  troops  occupy 
Old  Church.  They  have  fortified  themselves  with  strong 
and  beautifully  constructed  earthworks.  They  are  fine 
appearing  soldiers. 

June  llth.  The  brigade  was  aroused  by  an  early  reveille", 
and  moved  out  toward  Cold  Harbor.  At  Shady  Grove  the 
enemy's  infantry  was  encountered,  charged  and  driven  into 
their  earthworks.  Our  boys  behaved  gallantly  in  the 
charge,  some  of  them  urging  their  horses  over  the  fortifi 
cations.  A  few  of  them  never  returned.  The  regiment 
was  in  camp  again  about  noon.  The  few  days  past  have 
presented  signs  of  another  flank  movement. 

June  12th.  We  were  ordered  on  picket  about  three  miles 
from  Old  Church. 

June  13M.  We  began  to  withdraw  our  pickets  about  two 
o'clock  this  morning,  and  an  advance  guard  was  pushed  to 
12 


140  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Allen's  Mill.  By  daylight  the  whole  brigade  concentrated 
there,  and  moved  on  through  woods  and  fields,  over  deserted 
camps  and  fortifications,  making  but  a  short  halt  for  break 
fast.  A  few  prisoners  v/ere  captured  by  our  advance  and 
flankers.  At  noon  we  halted  again  a  few  minutes  near 
Hopkin's  Mill  on  Black  Creek.  Our  march  was  continued 
across  the  Richmond  and  York  river  rail  road,  between 
Dispatch  and  Summit  Stations,  and,  about  sundown,  wo 
crossed  the  sluggish  Chickahominy,  on  pontoons,  at  Long 
Bridge.  One  can  never  forget  the  sombre  appearance  of 
the  dense  and  gigantic  forest  through  which  we  passed, 
known  as  the  White  Oak  swamps.  This  name  can  never 
be  spoken  without  a  shudder  by  those  who  have  campaign 
ed  it  long  in  these  malarious  woods. 

When  night  came  on  we  were  ordered  to  be  rear  guard 
of  a  large  train.  And,  Oh  !  deliver  cavalry  from  such  a 
job  as  this,  especially  when  the  roads  are  almost  impassable, 
and  in  the. night.  Our  progress  was  exceedingly  slow,  and 
had  it  been  steady  it  would  have  been  more  tolerable.  But 
it  was  halt,  advance,  halt,  advance,  with  this  variety  occur 
ring  at  every  five  or  ten  rods,  and  the  halts  were  frequently 
much  longer  than  the  advances.  To  relieve  the  tired  horses, 
when  a  halt  occurred,  some  men  would  dismount,  and  sink- 
ing  to  the  ground  through  exhaustion,  would  quickly  fall 
asleep.  With  the  utmost  difficulty  they  were  aroused  when 
the  column  moved.  Others  slept  in  their  saddles,  either 
leaning  forward  on  the  pommel  of  the  saddle,  or  sitting  quite 
erect,  with  an  occasional  bow  forward,  or  to  the  right  or  left, 
like  the  swaying  of  the  flag  on  a  signal  station.  The  horse 
of  such  a  sleeping  man  will  generally  keep  his  place  in  the 
column,  and  the  man  will  very  seldom  fall ;  though  occa- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  141 

sionally  this  will  happen,  and  the  poor  fellow  awakes  only 
to  find  himself  deep-set  into  a  mud  hole,  while  general  mer 
riment  is  produced  among  the.  beholders.  As  no  one  is 
hurt,  the  man  is  soon  remounted,  and  the  journey  pursued. 

With  all  these  experiences  we  traveled  until  after  mid 
night,  and  finally  bivouacked  and  sought  rest. 

June  14M-.  Four  hours'  rest  was  all  we  got,  not  half  what 
weary  men  needed.  But  to  the  bugle's  shrill  call  every  one 
must  answer.  After  a  very  hasty  meal  the  march  was 
again  resumed,  and  we  finally  halted  at  Charles  City  Court 
House,  in  sight  of  the  flags  and  tents  of  army  headquarters. 
While  resting  here,  by  the  crumbling  walls  and  chimneys 
of  once  opulent  and  tasty  dwellings,  we  read  in  the  scorched 
trees  and  in  the  general  desolation,  a  few  pages  of  Rebellion's 
record  of  sorrow.  Plaving  grazed  our  horses,  and  received 
forage  and  rations,  we  moved  back  to  St.  Mary's  church, 
where  we  bivouacked  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  So 
near  to  us  were  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  that  we  were 
ordered  to  build  no  fires,  and  the  boys  ate  their  supper 
without  the  usual  coffee. 

June  \5th.  The  division  moved  by  daybreak  toward  the 
White  Oak  swamps.  Just  beyond  Smith's  store,  in  the 
edge  of  the  swamps,  a  strong  column  of  Rebel  infantry  was 
encountered.  So  masterly  had  been  conducted  this  flank 
movement  across  the  James  river,  that  the  Rebels  were 
deceived  as  to  its  object.  Expecting  that  a  strong  force 
would  advance  on  Richmond  by  way  of  Malvern  Hills,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  James,  they  had  sent  a  corresponding 
force  to  meet  it.  It  was  this  force  which  we  met.  A 
hotly  contested  battle  followed.  Engaged  with  numbers 
far  greater  than  our  own,  and  infantry  at  that,  we  suffered  a 


142  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

heavy  loss  and  were  compelled  to  fall  back,  which  we  did  in 
good  order,  bringing  most  of  our  dead  and  wounded  from 
the  field  At  St.  Mary's  Church  was  established  a  hospital, 
and  in  the  fields  and  woods  adjoining,  the  division  went 
into  bivouac.  A  heavy  picket  line  was  thrown  out  in  the 
direction  of  the  swamps. 

June  ~LQth.  The  regiment  was  detailed  on  picket  this 
morning,  where  it  remained  all  day.  At  night  all  the 
pickets  were  withdrawn,  and  the  division  was  moved  to 
Wyanoke  Landing  on  the  James,  where  we  arrived  after  a 
long,  toilsome  march,  a  few  hours  before  day. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Crossing  the  James  River. —  Pleasant  Scene. —  The  Wilson  Raid. — 
First  Day. —  Battle  of  Nottoway  Court  House. —  The  Danville 
Railroad. —  What  we  Destroyed. —  The  Contrabands. —  Battle 
of  Reams  Station.— The  Swift  Retreat.  — Awful  Scenes.— The 
Author's  Personal  Adventures. —  Is  Dismounted  in  the  Woods. — 
Travels  by  Night  and  IU  sis  by  Day. —  Narrow  Escapes. —  Assist 
ed  by  Negroes. —  Reaches  our  Lines  Safely. —  Casualties  of  the 
Raid. —  The  Division  Ships  for  Geisboro' Point,  D.  C. —  June 
17th  to  August  9M,  1864. 

June  \7tli.  After  about  three  hours'  rest  we  were  started 
on  the  march  again,  and  about  a  mile  below  Wyanoke,  and 
a  little  above  Fort  Powhatan,  the  division  crossed  the  James 
on  a  pontoon  bridge.  This  was  as  pleasant  a  scene  as  we 
had  ever  witnessed.  The  broad,  smooth  river,  the  crafts  of 
various  kinds  which  had  collected  at  this  point  and  floated 
so  quietly  on  the  water,  the  long  bridge,  which,  swayed  by 
the  current  of  the  stream,  formed  a  gentle,  graceful  curve, 
the  long  lines  of  cavalry  slowly  moving  to  the  opposite 
shore,  and,  poured  over  all,  the  glad  sunshine  of  the  Sab 
bath  morning,  presented  a  scene  so  much  in  contrast  to 
those  rough  experiences,  through  which  we  had  just  passed, 
that  every  one  was  delighted.  A  short  rest  was  enjoyed  on 
the  southern  bank,  during  which  were  issued  forage  and 
rations.  At  three  P.  y  under  a  sweltering  sun,  our  march 
was  resumed  in  the  direction  cf  Petersburg.  Great  destruc- 


144  HISTORIC  "RECORDS. 

tion  of  property  was  visible  on  the  march.  People,  fright 
ened  by  the  advance  of  the  Yankee  army,  had  forsaken 
their  houses  and  fled.  Such  places  were  destroyed.  Had 
the  inhabitants  remained  at  home,  the  houses,  at  least, 
would  not  have  been  molested.  About  sundown  we  passed 
Prince  George  Court  House  and  bivouacked  about  two 
miles  beyond.  "With  great  difficulty  the  boys  obtained 
water  for  their  coffee,  most  of  them  being  compelled  to 
take  it  from  Che  tracks  of  the  horses  where  they  had  been 
led  to  watering,  in  the  swamps  near  by. 

June  ISth.  The  division  moved  early,  in  a  southeasterly 
direction,  to  the  region  of  the  Black  Water  swamps.  The 
regiment  was  sent  on  picket  not  far  from  Mt.  Sinai  Church. 
As  the  country  abounded  in  milk,  honey,  corn,  wheat,  meat 
and  sorghum,  the  command  lived  well. 

June  2lst.  These  days  have  been  spent  quietly  on  picket. 
This  afternoon  an  order  was  issued  to  prepare  to  move  early 
to-morrow  morning. 

June  22(7.  About  three  o'clock  A.  M.  Gen.  Wilson's 
division,  reenforced  by  Gen.  Kautz's  brigade  of  cavalry 
with  fourteen  pieces-  of  flying  artillery,  including  two 
mountain  howitzers,  was  ready  for  a  raid.  At  a  rapid  rate, 
principally  through  by-paths,  and  unfrequented  ways,  to 
avoid  any  force  of  the  enemy,  the  command  advanced, 
striking  the  Weldon  rail  road  at  Reams  Station.  Here  the 
depot  and  about  a  mile  of  track  were  destroyed.  This  work 
was  quickly  done,  and  we  moved  on  in  a  westerly  course  to 
Dinwiddie  Court  House,  where  we  turned  our  faces  north 
ward.  At  Gravelly  Run  a  short  halt  was  made  and  our 
horses  were  watered.  About  sundown  the  Southside  rail 
road  was  reached  a  little  west  of  Sutherlands,  and  destruc- 


FIFTH  ^EW  YORK  CAVALRY.  145 

tion  of  ties,  rails,  culverts,  bridges,  &c.,  began  in  earnest. 
The  night  was  soon  illuminated  by  the  destroying  fires. 
Our  march  now  lay  along  the  rail  road,  and  was  continued  as 
far  as  Ford's,  where  we  halted  about  eleven  p.  M.,  after 
capturing  two  trains,  one  passenger  and  one  freight.  The 
engines,  having  been  set  on  fire  by  means  of  rails  and 
boards  piled  around  them,  made  the  night  hideous  with 
their  unearthly  shrieks,  which  continued  for  several  hours, 
disturbing  the  rest,  which,  weary  and  sleepy,  we  sought  in 
vain  to  enjoy. 

June  23J.  At  early  light  we  were  on  the  move  again, 
engaged  in  the  work  of  destruction.  The  great  heat  and 
drought  were  very  favorable  to  our  enterprise,  though  men 
and  beasts  suffered  much  for  the  want  of  water.  A  few 
rails  or  sticks  of  wood  laid  along  the  track  and  ignited,  suf 
ficed  to  make  the  destruction  complete.  Here  and  there  the 
road  was  torn  up,  the  ties  heaped  together  and  set  on  fire, 
while  the  iron  rails  were  laid  crosswise  upon  the  burning 
piles.  They  were  thus  effectually  destroyed.  Telegraph 
posts  were  cut  down,  and  the  wire  was  twisted  and  broken. 
One  regiment  after  another  was  detailed  to  perform  this  labor, 
and  such  was  the  wisdom  of  the  arrangement,  that  the  main 
column  was  not  impeded  in  its  progress,  while  the  work 
was  going  on.  Uninterrupted  in  our  progress,  we  advanced, 
beyond  Blacks  and  Whites,  crossed  the  Little  Nottoway 
creek,  and  encountered  the  enemy  in  pretty  strong  force, 
not  far  from  Nottoway  Court  House.  Intent  on  harassing 
our  column,  the  enemy  engaged  us  with  spirit  and  determi 
nation.  The  battle  continued  until  about  eleven  p.  M.  The 
regiment  was  on  the  skirmish  line  and  fought  with  its  usual 
vigor.  While  the  main  force  of  the  enemy  was  here  en- 


146  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

gaged,  a  feebler  attack  was  made  on  our  rear  guard  at 
Blacks  and  Whites.  Meanwhile,  Gen.  Kautz,  who  had  been 
detached  during  the  night  from  the  main  column  at  Ford's, 
had  made  a  successful  detour  around  the  enemy,  who  vainly 
supposed  he  was  fighting  the  whole  force  of  raiders  at  Not- 
toway,  and  without  opposition,  was  destroying  the  junction 
of  rail  roads  at  Burkesville.  Thus  far  Gen  Wilson's  plans 
had  worked  admirably,  and  success  followed  in  our  train. 

June  24:th.  As  our  object  was  not  to  fight  the  enemy  un 
less  compelled  to  do  so  for  defense,  and,  having  driven  him 
as  far  from  our  line  of  march  as  suited  our  purpose,  we 
abandoned  this  road,  and  struck  out  through  the  country  by 
Hungrytown,  and  reached  the  Danville  rail  road  at  Meher- 
rin  Station  about  four  o'clock  p.  M.  Here  Gen.  Kautz 
rejoined  the  division,  and  the  whole  force  bent  its  energies 
to  the  destruction  of  this  important  thoroughfare.  The 
work  was  comparatively  easy,  owing  to  the  peculiar  con 
struction  of  the  road.  Across  the  ties  a  heavy  timber, 
generally  of  pine,  is  notched  in  and  fastened,  upon  which 
lie  the  rails, — thin  pieces  of  iron  similar  to  the  tire  of  a 
heavy  wagon  wheel.  The  labor  of  tearing  up  and  burning 
could  be  done  in  half  the  time  it  would  take  on  the  ordinary 
roads.  Decidedly  encouraged  by  such  advantages,  the  boys 
applied  themselves  faithfully  to  the  accomplishment  of  their 
task.  Every  foot  of  the  road  was  destroyed  from  Meherrin 
to  Keysville,  where  we  arrived  about  eleven  p.  M.  and 
bivouacked. 

June  25th.  The  Keysville  depot  and  a  store  near  by  it 
were  burned  this  morning.  The  day  has  been  very  warm. 
Many  horses  "played  out"  by  the  way.  They  were  invari 
ably  shot,  and  replaced  by  horses  and  mules  captured  in  the 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  147 

country.  Scouting  parties  and  flankers  are  constantly  re- 
pleuishing  the  column  with  installments  of  fresh,  fat  animals, 
which  the  people  have  not  the  time  or  adroitness  to  hide 
from  the  swift-inoving  Yankees.  This  afternoon  our  ad 
vance,  commanded  by  Gen.  Kautz,  reached  the  Staunton 
river,  and  made  a  desperate  assault  upon  the  force  guarding 
the  rail  road  bridge.  For  a  time  there  was  a  promise  of 
success,  and  our  men  took  possession  of  the  bridge,  but 
before  the  torch  could  be  effectually  applied  they  were  com 
pelled  to  fall  back  before  murderous  discharges  of  grape 
and  canister  from  a  Rebel  battery.  The  project  of  destroy 
ing  this  valuable  bridge  had  to  be  abandoned.  In  the 
vicinity  of  Roanoke  Station,  the  division  bivouacked  late 
at  night. 

June  2Qth.  Up  to  this  time,  including  Roanoke  Station, 
we  had  burned  ten  important  stations,  and  several  smaller 
depots.  About  fifty  miles  of  rail  road  track,  including 
several  bridges  and  culverts,  had  been  completely  destroyed. 
Though  we  had  lost  many  horses,  our  numbers  were  made 
good  fron?  our  captures  by  the  way.  Our  column  had  been 
reenforced  6y  hundreds  of  contrabands,  who  flocked  to  our 
banners  from  the  country  far  and  near.  Our  loss  of  men 
had  been  very  slight,  and  mostly  in  wounded  and  captured. 
Our  train  had  been  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  several  fine 
carriages  and  barouches,  in  which  our  worst  cases  of  sick 
and  wounded  were  carried.  Our  tout  ensemble  was  encour 
aging,  and  though  far  out  in  the  enemy's  country,  hopes 
were  entertained  of  a  safe  and  speedy  return.  From  Roa 
noke  Station  the  column  moved  before  daylight,  in  a  south 
easterly  direction,  by  Wylliesburgh,  and  thence  to  Christian- 
ville,  a  fine  little  village,  where  was  found  a  great  abundance 


148  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

of  corn  for  our  horses.  From  this  place  our  course  was  di 
rectly  "facing  the  east,"  and  about  eleven  p.  M.  we  halted  for 
rest  along  a  nearly  dried  up  stream  called  Buckhorn  creek. 

June  21th.  Our  journey  was  resumed  early,  and  at  ten 
A.  M.  we  crossed  the  Meherrin  river  at  Stafford's  Bridge. 
Our  course  bearing  a  little  to  the  north,  brought  us  at  night, 
after  receiving  a  refreshing  shower,  in  the  vicinity  of  Stur- 
geonville,  where  we  halted 

June  28f/i.  As  usual  we  were  in  the  saddle  before  the 
dawn,  and  on  our  march  homeward.  About  twelve  M.  we 
crossed  the  Nottoway  river  at  Double  Bridges.  Our  course 
now  became  a  little  more  northward,  and  contrabands 
flocked  to  us  in  unusual  numbers.  There  was  no  end  of 
the  interesting  tales  they  had  to  tell,  which,  at  times,  excited 
our  admiration,  and  then  incited  to  tears.  To  us  most  of 
them  came  destitute  of  all  things,  except  the  hope  of  liberty. 
This  was  the  circle  of  all  their  thoughts.  For  this  the 
gray-haired  slave,  bending  with  the  infimities  of  many  toil 
some  years,  was  "  toting"  his  grandchild  on  his  arm  and  on 
his  head  by  turns,  along  the  column.  The  mother,  with 
her  young  babe  clinging  to  her  breast,  traveled  through 
the  woods  and  brush,  the  heat  and  dust,  hoping  for  better 
days.  Young  men  and  maidens,  with  more  of  the  European 
than  the  African  in  their  features  and  complexion,  plodded  on 
their  way,  happy  to  be  among  those  whom  they  recognized 
as  their  deliverers. 

At  night  the  column  encountered  a  heavy  force  of  Rebel 
infantry  at  Stony  Creek  Station  on  the  Weldon  rail  road. 
All  night  the  battle  raged  fiercely,  with  only  now  and  then 
an  interval  of  rest.  Those  who  were  not  engaged  on  the 
battle  line  were  compelled  to  stand  to  horse,  and  to  shiver 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  149 

with  the  cold,  which  was  peculiarly  felt  in  that  locality.  It 
was  an  awful  night  of  fatigue  and  doubt. 

June  29th.  Before  the  dawn  of  day  Gen.  Wilson  moved 
forward  such  a  portion  of  his  force  as  he  thought  might  be 
spared  from  the  skirmish  line,  leaving  the  second  brigade  to 
bring  up  the  rear.  The  enemy  made  a  desperate  charge  on 
this  brigade,  which  threatened  it  with  annihilation.  A 
large  number  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands,  and  the  remainder 
were  thrown  into  much  confusion,  but  escaped.  About  ten 
A.  M.  the  whole  command  was  within  three  or  four  miles  of 
Reams  Station,  on  ground  made  familiar  by  our  outward 
passage  just  one  week  previous.  It  was  hoped  that  assist 
ance  would  be  rendered  us  by  our.  main  army,  as  we  were 
not  far  from  its  left  wing.  This  had  been  promised  us  by 
Gen.  Meade.  But  assistance  failed  to  come  in  time. 

Regiments  were  deployed  to  ascertain  the  position  and 
strength  of  the  enemy.  It  was  soon  found  that  he  was  not 
only  able  to  resist  our  passage,  but  also  to  surround  and 
annihilate  us  if  we  remained  long  within  his  reach.  At 
noon  orders  were  issued  to  abandon  the  entire  train.  Forges 
and  wagons  were  burned,  and  the  ambulance  train  was 
parked  near  the  banks  of  Rowanty  creek,  and  hospital 
flags  placed  over  it.  All  wounded  and  sick  who  could  ride 
were  mounted;  all  others  must  be  left  behind.  It  was  a  sad 
hour.  Ngver  had  the  boom  of  cannon  sounded  more 
solemnly. 

The  advance  of  the  retreating  column  moved  about  one 
mile  from  the  ambulances  and  there  awaited  orders.  The 
road  was  literally  packed,  and  for  rods  in  the  woods  on  either 
side,  wherever  a  man  could  ride,  was  a  mass  of  human 
beings  with  anxious,  throbbing  hearts.  About  three  o'clock 


150  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Gen.  Wilson  passed  through  the  column,  though  it  was  diffi 
cult  to  make  a  way  for  him,  and  as  soon  as  he  reached  the 
front  the  entire  crowd  moved  forward.  What  followed  can 
not  be  described.  Think  of  such  a  force  of  cavalry,  at  the 
utmost  speed  of  their  horses,  over  a  road  with  six  inches  of 
dust  in  places,  on  one  of  the  warmest,  sultriest  days  !  There, 
too,  were  the  contrabands  mostly  dismounted,  men,  women 
and  children,  who  knew  that  to  be  captured  was  death,  or 
worse  than  death  !  It  was  well,  perhaps,  that  the  blinding 
dust  should  partially  hide  the  scene  from  view. 

No  halt  was  made  until  we  came  to  Stony  creek,  a  dis 
tance  of  five  or  six  miles  from  Rowanty.  Here  the  creek 
is  quite  deep,  and  the  banks  rocky  and  precipitous.  The 
bridge  is  very  narrow.  It  was  hoped  that  no  heavy  force 
of  the  enemy  had  followed  us.  The  scattered  fragments  of 
regiments  were  called  together,  with  design  to  hold  the 
bridge.  The  men  were  almost  completely  demoralized,  at 
least  one  third  having  either  thrown  away  or  lost  their  arms 
in  the  flight.  Scarcely  had  the  work  of  reorganization  been 
completed,  when  the  pursuing  foe,  with  cavalry  and  artil 
lery,  came  upon  us.  We  were  in  no  condition  to  resist  him, 
though  some  men  fought  bravely.  Panic-stricken,  nearly 
all  soon  broke  ranks,  and  fled  as  best  they  could.  And 
such  a  sight !  Down  the  steep  banks  of  the  creek,  men 
urged  their  weary  steeds,  until  they  fell  headlong  into  the 
splashhig  water.  Some  were  pushed  off  the  bridge,  falling 
on  others  in  the  stream.  Men  and  horses  mingled  in  al 
most  every  conceivable  shape,  struggled  to  reach  the  oppo 
site  bank,  while  bullets  whizzed  among  the  trees,  and  shells 
screamed  over  our  heads.  (Diverging  from  the  main  tenor 
of  this  narrative  at  this  point,  the  author  wishes  to  give  a 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  151 

few  days  of  personal  adventures  and  experiences.  He  is 
constrained  to  do  this,  as  it  will  represent,  in  the  main, 
the  experience  of  hundreds  of  others). 

Driving  down  as  far  as  my  horse  would  go  without  fall 
ing,  I  dismounted,  and,  as  I  knew  the  animal  could  not 
carry  me  much  further  on  account  of  exhaustion  and  lame 
ness,  I  concluded  to  leave  him.  Down  the  crevice  of  the 
rocks  near  the  water's  edge,  I  reached  a  retreat  safe  from 
falling  horses  and  flying  bullets,  and,  for  a  moment,  thought, 
/  will  surrender.  But  I  had  tasted  the  prisoner's  bitter 
cup,  and  I  resolved  to  go  forward  so  long  as  I  could  put 
one  foot  before  the  other.  I  stepped  into  the  stream,  with 
water  to  my  waist.  Near  the  opposite  bank  the  water  was 
deeper,  and,  striking  a  slimy  log  on  the  bottom,  I  fell  prone 
into  it.  Struggling  toward  the  shore,  the  branch  of  an 
overhanging  tree  caught  my  hat  and  flung  it  down  the 
stream.  At  length  upon  dry  ground  I  stood,  a  sorry  picture 
of  a  sorry  Yankee,  weak  from  exhaustion,  heavy  with  water 
in  my  clothes  and  boots,  and  hatless !  Raising  my  right 
foot  by  the  toe  of  my  big  boot,  I  poured  out  the  water  at 
the  knee,  and  while  endeavoring  to  do  the  same  thing  with 
my  left  boot,  I  beheld  a  large  riderless  bay  horse,  rising 
from  the  creek  and  coming  toward  me.  I  seized  him  by 
the  bridle  and  mounted  into  the  saddle,  joining  the  column 
with  new  hope. 

This  horse  belonged  to  the  1st  District  of  Columbia  cav 
alry,  as  I  knew  by  the  sixteen  shooter  that  he  carried.  I 
had  not  gone  far  before  I  discovered  that  he  was  nearly 
exhausted,  and  would  soon  give  out.  While  reflecting  on 
my  own  wretchedness,  I  saw  a  man  a  little  to  the  left  of 
the  column,  riding  a  mule  that  had  neither  saddle  nor  bri- 
13 


152  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

die,  and  the  man  himself  had  nothing  on  but  an  army  shirt ! 
I  was  compelled  to  laugh  in  spite  of  myself,  and  soon 
became  willing  to  be  hatless  and  destitute.  I  had  cut  away 
all  the  baggage  from  the  saddle,  to  make  the  burden  of  my 
horse  as  light  as  possible.  However,  on  arriving  near  Sap- 
pony  creek,  he  failed  me  completely.  Two  men  of  the 
regiment,  Charles  T.  S.  Pierce,  company  G-,  and  Oscar  L. 
Barden,  company  B,  were  near  me  at  the  time.  Their 
horses  were  nearly  in  the  condition  of  mine.  "We  resolved 
to  share  each  other's  fate,  to  leave  the  column,  and  on  foot, 
by  night  marches,  to  reach  our  lines  if  possible.  We  were 
in  a  dense  forest.  Imploring  Divine  aid  in  our  hazardous 
journey,  we  moved  about  a  mile  from  the  road,  and  stopped 
for  the  night  among  thick  bushes.  We  heard  the  rear  of 
our  column  as  it  passed  Sappony  bridge,  we  also  heard  the 
pursuers,  who  fired  into  the  woods  in  every  direction,  but 
we  were  quiet  and  safe. 

June  30^.  We  suffered  from  the  chill  of  the  night. 
The  day  has  been  spent  in  Wood-tick  bivouac,  so  named 
from  the  numberless  wood-ticks  that  have  infested  the 
place.  Nothing  but  a  wild  pig,  with  which  these  forests 
abound,  came  near  our  resting  place.  We  are  not  much 
burdened  with  luggage,  having  but  one  overcoat,  two  pon- 
choes,  two  haversacks  and  one  canteen.  I  have  a  good  map, 
but  we  have  no  compass.  We  have  also  matches  and  ink.  I 
carry  my  journal  and  Greek  Testament,  Pierce  carries  a 
Bible  and  Hymn  book  and  Barden  has  thread  and  needles. 
Our  store  of  eatables  consists  of  about  a  half  pint  of  rice,  a 
quarter  pound  of  coffee  and  sugar  mixed  (no  cup  to  cook 
these  in),  five  pounds  of  flour  and  a  little  salt. 

As  soon  as  night  came  on  we  began  to   travel,  guided  by 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  153 

the  stars,  which  here  and  there  peeped  through  the  thick 
foliage  of  the  forest.  Our  course  was  northeast.  At  eleven 
o'clock  we  came  to  Sappony  creek,  which  we  crossed 
yesterday.  Bad  as  was  the  water,  we  drank  of  it  freely, 
having  had  but  one  canteen  of  water  since  yesterday  about 
seven  p.  M.  Here  we  mixed  about  half  of  our  flour  into 
dough.  Fearful  that  if  we  built  a  fire  we  might  be  disco 
vered  by  the  scouting  parties  that  were  hunting  for  us,  we 
repaired  to  a  deep  ravine,  skirted  with  many  bushes,  where 
we  made  a  small  fire  of  dry  sticks  and  leaves,  on  which  we 
laid  our  dough  which  was  smoked  and  charred  horribly. 
This  was  our  only  staff  of  life,  and  all  we  had  to  eat  for 
nearly  forty-eight  hours.  Thus  ended  with  us  the  month 
of  June  on  the  banks  of  the  muddy  Sappony. 

July  1st.  About  one  o'clock  A.  M.  we  crossed  the  Sappony 
on  a  fallen  tree.  We  afterward  traveled  as  rapidly  as  we 
could,  through  swamps,  tangled  brushwood  and  briars,  occa 
sionally  through  a  field,  until  daylight,  when  we  sought  the 
shelter  of  tall,  thick -grown  brackberry  briars,  in  the  edge 
of  a  field.  At  nine  o'clock  p.  M.  we  came  out  of  our  hiding 
and  resting  place,  and  moved  on  as  the  night  before. 
Emerging  from  a  thick  wood,  we  came  upon  a  herd  of 
cows  in  a  yard,  where  we  vainly  sought  to  get  some  milk. 
As  they  were  doubtless  accustomed  to  be  milked  by  women, 
as  are  cows  generally  in  Virginia,  we  could  not  approach 
them.  Following  a  footpath  we  found  a  cherry  tree  with 
cherries,  which  relished  well.  But  we  had  no  sooner  com 
menced  regaling  ourselves,  than  a  tall,  heavy,  shadowy  man 
dressed  in  light  gray,  was  moving  toward  us  up  the  path. 
On  discovering  us  he  moved  away  rapidly.  We  traveled  on 
probably  quite  as  rapidly  as  he,  as  we  soon  saw  that  the 


154  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

neighborhood  had  been  alarmed.  Lights  were  seen  at  the 
houses,  and  dogs  made  hideous  howlings.  With  terrible 
pictures  of  blood-hounds  before  our  thoughts,  we  quickened 
our  steps.  This  danger  passed,  and  we  were  thankful;  and 
our  joy  was  still  more  increased,  when,  led  by  the  voice  of 
singing  frogs,  we  found  excellent  water  in  a  field.  On 
leaving  this  place  of  refreshing  we  entered  the  woods-under 
a  beautiful  arch  of  foliage  and  soon  came  to  Stony  creek. 
Laying  aside  our  garments,  and  rolling  them  up  in  tight 
bundles,  we  crossed  safely  over.  The  water  was  about  four 
and  a  half  feet  deep. 

July  2d.  About  three  A.  M.  we  came  in  sight  of  several 
picket  fires  just  ahead  of  us.  We  flanked  them  by  turning 
to  the  left.  At  daybreak  we  came  into  a  large  field,  and 
sought  refuge  in  a  thicket,  though  not  far  from  a  house. 
We  had  but  just  fallen  asleep,  when  we  were  aroused  by 
footsteps  approaching  and  voices  distinctly  heard.  Soon 
the  black  faces  of  two  slaves  appeared  through  the  bushes. 
This  gave  us  hope.  One  of  them  afterward  disappeared, 
the  other  continued  coming  toward  us.  Before  he  had  seen 
us,  I  spoke  at  a  high  whisper,  "  come  here,"  when  his  big 
black  eye,  with  its  surrounding  pure  white,  fell  excitedly 
upon  us. 

"You're  not  afraid  of  Yankee  soldiers,  are  you?"  I  inter 
rogated. 

"Oh,  no,  massa,"  and  he  walked  up  by  our  side. 

"What's  your  name?" 

"Tom." 

"  Tom  what  ?     Have  you  no  other  name  ?" 

"Dunne,  massa,  dey  allers  calls  me  Tom." 

"Well,  who  lives  here? 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  155 

"  Major  Malone,  whose  son  is  in  the  Rebel  army." 

"  How  far  is  it  to  Reams  Station  ?" 

"  Two  miles  an'  half." 

We  now  saw  that  we  were  in  a  critical  position,  within 
the  Rebel  army  lines,  and  on  the  premises  of  a  prominent 
Rebel.  From  Tom  we  learned  that  Rebel  soldiers  frequently 
came  to  the  house  during  the  day,  though  not  generally  at 
night.  He  promised  to  get  us  some  bread,  which  he  did, 
for  which  we  gave  him  some  money.  He  also  promised 
to  guide  us  at  night  across  a  ford  of  Rowan ty  creek,  by  a 
way  that  would  soon  lead  us  across  the  Weldon  rail  road. 
The  time  set  for  starting  was  nine  o'clock.  During  the 
day  several  cavalrymen  were  seen  passing  on  the  road, 
which,  at  one  point,  was  visible  to  us,  and,  at  one  time,  a 
cavalryman  rode  directly  toward  us,  stopping  only  a  few 
paces  from  us.  We  could  hear  the  breathings  of  his 
horse,  as  we  lay  almost  breathless,  on  the  ground.  In  this 
condition  we  longed  for  the  night.  It  came  at  length,  but 
with  it  came  no  Tom,  for  what  reason  we  never  learned. 
This  was  a  sore  disappointment. 

July  3d.  Having  waited  for  Tom,  in  vain,  until  after 
midnight,  we  finally  started,  guided  only  by  the  stars. 
Rowanty  creek  was  soon  reached,  but  at  a  place  so  wide 
and  apparently  deep,  that  we  durst  not  undertake  to  ford. 
We  followed  it,  until  day  brought  us  into  a  large,  muddy 
dismal  swamp.  We  crossed  as  we  had  done  at  Stony  creek. 
After  retiring  in  the  depths  of  the  swamp,  we  kindled  a  fire 
at  the  roots  of  an  ancient  oak,  and  cooked  the  last  flour  we 
had  into  bread.  Until  evening  we  remained  in  the  swamp, 
disturbed  now  and  then  by  the  cries  of  wild  hogs,  eagles 
and  foxes.  When  darkness  came  we  moved  out  of  the 


156  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

woods,  passed  by  a  farm  house,  and,  having  crossed  a  well 
traveled  road,  arrived  at  the  Weldon  rail  road.  This  was 
at  a  deep  cut,  where  we  could  not  cross.  A  picket  fire 
could  be  distinctly  seen  at  our  left.  Rapidly  we  followed 
the  road  to  the  right,  until,  coming  to  a  depression  in  the 
bank,  we  slid  down  to  the  track  below.  We  now  found  the 
opposite  bank  too  steep  and  high  to  climb.  Undaunted,  we 
moved  on  along  the  track,  and  found  a  place,  where,  by 
means  of  bushes  and  roots  of  trees,  we  got  out  of  this  dan 
gerous  spot.  After  traveling  a  few  hours  the  heavens 
became  overcast  with  clouds,  and  we  were  compelled  to 
advance  by  guess,  and  finally  to  stop  altogether. 

July  4th.  We  had  waited  for  the  morning  sun  in  vain, 
for  clouds  so  obscured  the  light  as  to  render  the  points  of 
the  compass  very  doubtful.  However,  as  we  had  lost  time 
during  the  night,  we  concluded  to  travel  as  best  we  could. 
Along  a  swamp  we  found  some  ripe  berries,  which  we  en 
joyed.  We  had  not  marched  long  before  two  Rebel  soldiers 
were  seen  advancing  in  a  path  that  would  intersect  ours  at 
no  great  distance.  We  were  quickly  hidden  under  the 
bushes,  which  abounded.  While  the  boys  slept,  I  made  a 
short  reconnoissance,  in  which  I  ascertained  that  we  were 
only  a  stone's  throw  from  the  Weldon  rail  road  again,  and 
near  the  picket  post,  whose  fire  it  was  probable  we  had  seen 
the  night  before.  Cautiously  we  moved  out  of  this  place, 
and  continued  through  the  woods  to  a  plantation.  In  a 
cornfield  a  negress  was  at  work.  Of  her  we  inquired  for 
direction.  Said  I,  "which  way  is  east?" 

"Dunno,  massa." 

"Which  way  is  west?" 

A  like  answer. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  157 

"  Well,  where  does  the  sun  rise  ?" 

"There,"  pointing  with  her  finger. 

Her  master's  name  was  John  Slay.  Beyond  that  she 
seemed  to  know  very  little. 

Our  next  point  of  interest  was  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road. 
While  standing  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  consulting  as  to 
whether  it  were  best  to  travel  much  more  hy  day,  out  rode 
from  the  thick  forest  a  cavalryman,  whose  gingling  sabre 
and  accoutrements  bespoke  danger  to  unarmed  men.  He 
rode  quite  rapidly  by,  within  three  rods  of  us,  and  we 
rejoiced  to  have  escaped  his  observation.  As  he  disap 
peared  we  lost  no  time  in  seeking  a  quiet,  secluded  spot, 
where  we  waited  for  the  night.  Night  came  on  with  bright 
stars,  and  we  journeyed  joyfully.  At  nine  P.  M.  we  arrived 
at  another  plantation.  A  light  was  seen  through  the  cre 
vices  of  a  log  shanty,  and  the  low  voices  from  within  were 
taken  for  those  of  negroes.  I  knocked  at  the  door,  and  a 
voice  said,  "come  in."  Opening  the  low  door,  I  invited  a 
pure  African  out,  and  learned  that  there  were  none  but 
slaves  present.  With  haste  the  women  began  to  prepare  us 
some  supper,  while  we  waited  without.  We  were  soon 
invited  in,  and  sat  down  to  a  dish  of  fried  pork  and  corn 
bread  hot  from  the  ashes,  to  which  we  did  ample  justice. 
This  was  the  first  meat  we  had  tasted  since  the  morning  of 
June  29th.  After  supper  we  paid  them  well,  their  eyes 
sparkling  with  delight.  From  them  I  obtained  a  hat.  The 
faithful  man  Alison  then  guided  us  through  Jones'  Hole 
Swamp,  and  we  crossed  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road  near  Dr. 
Proctor's.  Alison  then  left  us,  wishing  us  all  prosperity, 
and  returned  to  his  master,  Fred  Raines. 

July  5th.  We   traveled  some  during  the  morning  at   the 


158  HISTORIC  EECOBDS. 

right  of  the  plank  road,  and  rested  but  little  during  the 
day.  At  sundown  we  made  inquiries  of  some  colored  people, 
and  of  a  Union  white  man,  a  rare  article  in  that  part  of 
Virginia,  who  informed  us  that  our  pickets  were  only  about 
three  miles  ahead  of  us  near  Lee's  Mills,  and  that  the 
country  abounded  with  guerrillas.  We  were  cautioned  to  keep 
in  the  woods  and  avoid  the  road.  When  darkness  came, 
we  advanced.  Weary  of  briars  and  bushes,  on  reaching  the 
road,  we  followed  it,  carefully  watching  every  suspicious 
object.  Soon  something  was  seen  moving  ahead  of  us, 
which  was  afterward  discovered  to  be  a  man.  Hoping  it 
might  be  one  of  our  own  men,  we  quickened  our  footsteps, 
and  on  overtaking  him,  what  was  our  surprise  to  find  him 
to  be  a  Rebel  soldier,  with  his  musket  on  his  shoulder. 
My  first  thought  was  :  this  is  doubtless  a  guerrilla,  and 
though  alone,  by  a  whistle  or  other  signal,  up  will  spring 
from  the  thick  bushes  along  the  way  as  many  helpers  as  he 
desires.  However,  I  knew  that  alone  he  could  not  harm  us 
materially,  as  we  walked  up  by  his  side,  so  near  that  he 
could  not  take  his  musket  down,  before  we  could  seize  him. 
On  approaching  him,  he  turned  his  head  about,  and  said, 
"  You're  Yankees,  I  reckon."  We  made  no  reply  but 
walked  on  in  sad  silence.  On  making  a  turn  in  the  road  wo 
came  in  sight  of  several  fires.  I  broke  the  oppressive 
silence  by  saying,  "  There's  a  Yankee  camp,  I  think." 
"  Yes,"  replied  the  stranger,  "and  there's  a  Yankee  picket 
just  ahead  of  us,  and  I  am  going  to  give  myself  up  to  them 
as  a  prisoner."  The  vail  was  at  once  lifted  from  our  pros 
pect,  and  we  entered  into  a  friendly  conversation.  I  found 
that  he  belonged  to  the  2d  North  Carolina  cavalry,  and  had 
come  from  Reams  Station,  since  our  fight  there.  While 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  159 

conversing  together,  we  suddenly  came  to  a  stop,  at  the  cry  : 
"  Halt !  Who  comes  there  ?"  "  Friends,"  cried  I.  We 
were  soon  safely,  with  our  Rebel  friend,  within  the  lines  of 
the  3d  New  Jersey  cavalry,  where  we  found  old  acquaint 
ances,  and  received  all  proper  attention. 

Almost  completely  exhausted,  we  were  gladly  welcomed 
to  the  leafy  abodes  of  our  old  comrades,  where  we  enjoyed 
full  rations  and  undisturbed  sleep. 

July  Sth.  We  reached  the  regiment,  encamped  near 
Light  House  Point,  this  afternoon.  From  them  we  learned 
that  June  29th,  Gen.  Wilson  retreated  south  to  Jarrett's 
Station,  crossed  the  rail  road,  then  by  an  east,  northeast, 
north  course,  reached  our  lines  after  two  or  three  days.  Gen. 
Kautz,  more  familiar  with  the  country,  struck  through  the 
woods  north  of  Stony  creek,  reaching  our  lines  the  morn 
ing  of  the  30th.  The  loss  of  the  command  was  nearly  one 
thousand  men  (mostly  captured),  with  the  whole  artillery 
and  train.  Nothing  was  saved  that  went  on  wheels.  The 
loss  is  less  than  had  been  feared,  as  many,  who  were  account 
ed  lost,  afterward  came  in  as  did  the  writer  of  these  lines. 

July  \1th.  As  it  needed  it,  the  cavalry  has  been  recruit 
ing  its  energies  in  quiet  camps  for  several  days.  However, 
many  of  our  men  were  disabled  by  the  raid  and  have  been 
Bent  to  hospitals,  and  many  dismounted  fellows  have  gone 
to  Camp  Stoneman,  at  Geisboro'  Point,  D.  C.  These  latter, 
numbering  a  little  less  than  one  hundred,  were  engaged 
in  those  memorable  battles  and  skirmishes  with  the  Rebel 
invaders  of  Maryland  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  com 
mencing  with  the  battle  of  Maryland  Heights,  July  6th, 
and  ending  with  the  battle  of  Kernstown,  the  24th,  at 
which  time  Col.  Mulligan  was  killed. 


160  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

What  remained  of  the  regiment  with  the  division,  waa 
sent  out  at  half  past  three  P.  M.,  to  picket  along  Powell's 
creek  at  Cooke's  Mill,  several  miles  down  the  river.  This 
duty  was  very  easy. 

July  15f/i.  We  were  relieved  from  picket,  and  returned 
to  camp  again  near  Light  House  Point. 

July  25th.  The  brigade  moved  at  dusk,  to  the  picket 
lines  at  the  Gurley  House,  nearly  south  of  Petersburg.  The 
regiment  went  on  duty,  after  arriving,  establishing  its  lines 
nearly  parallel  with  the  Weldon  rail  road.  We  found  the 
Rebel  pickets  very  quiet  and  friendly,  and  a  pleasant  inter 
course  was  enjoyed. 

July  30th.  The  dawn  was  ushered  in  with  a  terrible 
explosion  and  cannonade,  making  the  earth  tremble  beneath 
our  feet.  To  these  was  added  a  rapid  musketry.  Expecting 
an  attack,  the  cavalry  withdrew  its  pickets,  and  made  pre 
paration  for  any  emergency.  The  enemy  did  not  make  his 
appearance  on  our  front.  Our  infantry  lines  were  engaged 
for  several  hours,  but  the  great  mine  explosion  ended  very 
disastrously  to  our  cause,  with  a  loss  of  many  men.  We 
returned  on  picket  at  night. 

August  1st.  We  were  relieved  from  picket,  and  went  into 
camp  near  brigade  headquarters. 

August  5th.  For  some  days  the  first  division  of  cavalry 
has  been  leaving  this  department,  and  taking  transports  for 
Camp  Stoneman,  District  of  Columbia.  This  morning  the 
third  division  received  orders  to  march  to  City  Point,  where 
we  were  embarked  on  transports,  with  our  horses.  This 
was  a  slow,  toilsome  job.  It  was  nine  o'clock  p.  M.  before 
we  were  aboard. 

August  6th.  The  men  have  enjoyed  the  day's  sail,    down 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  161 

the  James,  up  Chesapeake  Bay  and  the  Potomac,  to  Kettle 
Bottom,  where  we  cast  anchor  for  the  night. 

August  7th.  "We  weighed  anchor  at  early  light,  and  ahout 
three  p.  M.  we  were  landed  at  Geisboro'  Point.  "We  went 
into  camp  near  Camp  Stoneman. 

August  9th.  The  boys  were  made  glad  by  the  presence  of 
the  paymaster  and  his  greenbacks.  Our  time  is  mostly 
occupied  in  exchanging  our  poor  horses  for  good  ones,  and 
remounting  our  dismounted  men.  This  looks  like  work 
ahead  for  the  cavalry. 


CHAPTER  X. 

To  the  Shenandoali  Valley.  —  Exciting  Scene  in  Snicker's  Gap.  — 
Battle  of  Summit  Point. — Battle  of  Kearneysville  Station. — 
Crossing  into  Maryland. —  Old  John  Brown  air  in  Charlestown. — 
Skirmishes  near  the  Opcquan. — Battle  of  Winchester. — Drive 
the  Enemy  through  Front  Royal. —  Up  Luray  Valley.  —  Raid 
to  Staunton  and  Waynesboro'. — Cavalry  Fight  at  Tom's  Brook. — 
Battle  of  Cedar  Creek. —  Sheridan's  Ride.  —  Unparalleled  Cap 
tures  by  the  Regiment.  —  Gen.  Custer's  Congratulatory  Order.  — 
Reconnoissance  to  Rood's  Hill. —  Spirited  Engagement  near  Mt. 
Jackson. — Regiment  Detailed  Escort  of  General  Sheridan. — 
The  Fruit  of  Sheridan's  Work  in  the  Valley.  —August  12th  to 
December  21st,  1864. 

August  \2th.  Orders  were  issued  to  the  division,  to  bo 
ready  to  move  at  sundown  to  its  new  field  of  duty.  At 
the  appointed  hour  the  bugles  were  ringing  clearly,  and 
the  rested  cavalrymen  were  soon  gladly  on  the  march.  It 
was  after  nine  o'clock  before  these  well  equipped  and  tho 
roughly  disciplined  squadrons  had  traversed  the  streets  of 
the  nation's  capital,  laden  with  the  hopes  of  every  loyal 
heart.  We  were  now  to  enter  upon  a  field  of  operations 
the  glory  of  which  would  eclipse  all  that  the  cavalry  had 
yet  accomplished. 

Until  eleven  o'clock  we  continued  our  march  up  the  Poto 
mac  to  Chain  Bridge,  where  we  crossed  into  Virginia  again, 
and  bivouacked  about  three  miles  from  the  river. 

August  13th.    Before  daylight  the  regiment  was  detailed 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  163 

to  escort  Col.  Chipman,  a  dispatch  bearer  to  General 
Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Great  speed  was 
necessary,  and  the  regiment  moved  accordingly.  The 
line  of  march  led  us  through  Drainesville,  Leesburg, 
Hamilton,  Purcelville  and  Snicker's  Gap.  A  very  brief 
halt  was  made  near  Goose  creek,  where  we  forded  in  pretty 
deep  water.  Near  Leesburg  a  slight  attack  was  made  on 
our  rear  guard  by  a  squad  of  White's  guerrillas,  who  were 
easily  dispersed 

Before  reaching  Snicker's  Gap,  we  were  informed  by 
the  inhabitants,  that  Mosby  with  a  strong  force  was  in 
the  vicinity.  We  expected  to  meet  him  in  the  gap.  It 
was  night,  and  not  a  breath  of  air  stirred  the  heavy  foliage 
of  the  trees.  No  sound  was  heard  save  the  song  of  the 
katydid  and  the  heavy  tramp  of  our  horses  on  the  hard 
road.  The  moon  shone  brightly,  flooding  the  mountain  tops 
with  her  silvery  beams.  The  woods  wore  that  sombre, 
weird  appearance,  so  often  spoken  of  in  fairy  tales.  Our 
feelings  were  doubly  excited  by  the  expectation,  that  from 
the  shady  nooks  or  dark  crevices  of  the  rocks,  would  flash 
the  deadly  weapons  of  our  enemy.  But  our  passage  was 
performed  without  meeting  him.  From  the  summit  of 
the  gap,  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  filled  with  the  hazy  light 
of  the  moon,  presented  a  scene  that  was  perfectly  enchant 
ing.  We  forded  the  broad,  shining  Shenandoah  river,  at 
Snicker's  Ferry.  Near  Berryville  we  saw  the  burning 
remains  of  a  supply  train  which  Mosby  had  captured  and 
destroyed  that  day.  We  entered  within  our  lines  near  the 
Opequan  creek,  and,  tired  and  sleepy,  we  halted  about  three 
A.  M.  within  two  miles  of  Winchester.  This  was  the 
longest  march  ever  performed  by  the  regiment  in  the  same 
14 


164  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

time  :  we  had  traveled  about  seventy-five  miles  in  twenty- 
two  hours. 

August  l&th.  This  afternoon  we  moved  through  Win 
chester,  to  Milltown,  and  camped  near  the  creek. 

August  16^/t.  Reveille"  sounded  before  daylight,  and, 
breaking  camp,  at  sunrise,  we  moved  to  Berryville.  Here 
we  joined  the  division,  with  which  we  moved  toward 
Ashby's  Gap,  marching  till  midnight. 

August  \lth.  Moved  through  White  Post,  and  back  to 
Winchester.  Gen.  Sheridan's  army  was  falling  back  from 
Cedar  creek.  The  third  division  was  detailed  to  picket  the 
main  roads,  which  centre  at  Winchester  and  to  bring  up 
the  rear  of  the  army.  The  Fifth  was  sent  on  the  Romney 
pike  to  Petticoat  Gap.  The  picketing  was  quiet  until  dark. 
The  Rebels  now  advanced  upon  us  at  nearly  every  point. 
From  a  high  hill  near  Milltown,  our  artillery  opened  upon 
the  advancing  column  of  the  enemy.  In  consequence  of 
our  line's  retreating  on  the  Valley  pike,  before  we  could 
be  apprised  of  the  fact,  the  Rebels  entered  the  town,  thus 
flanking  us  completely.  No  time  was  lost,  however,  in  fall 
ing  back  over  the  hills,  northwest  of  town,  passing  through 
the  embankments  of  Fort  Milroy.  We  rejoined  our  forces 
on  the  plains  below,  and  tog^her  we  continued  retreating 
toward  Summit  Point,  on  a  dirt  road,  east  of  the  pike. 
About  midnight  we  halted  for  rest  not  far  from  Wadesville. 

August  18^.  The  column  was  set  in  motion  early,  and  a 
heavy  rain  came  down  upon  us.  The  division  halted  at 
Summit  Point,  and  the  regiment  was  sent  back  to  picket 
along  the  Opequan. 

August  19^.  Our  boys  on  picket  were  attacked  by  a 
strong  party  of  Rebel  cavalry,  and  forced  back  nearly  two 


FIFTH  XEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  165 

miles.  Reinforcements  were  sent  out  and  the  Rebel  ad 
vance  was  checked. 

August  20th.  Relieved  from  picket,  and  bivouacked  near 
Summit  Point.  The  lines  were  quiet. 

August  2lst.  As  has  been  so  often  the  case  on  the  Sab 
bath,  it  was  not  possible  to  pass  the  day  without  an  engage 
ment.  About  eight  o'clock  our  pickets  were  driven  in,  and  at 
nine  a  strong  force  of  infantry  and  cavalry  confronted  us  at 
the  Point.  Boldly  they  came  out  of  the  woods  into  an  open 
field,  and  flaunted  their  miserable  flag  into  our  faces.  But  a 
well  directed  shell  from  our  artillery,  which  exploded  among 
".hern,  sent  them  "  kiting"  to  the  woods  again.  However,  a 
force  far  superior  to  ours  in  numbers  compelled  us  at  length 
to  retreat,  which  we  did  in  good  order.  We  arrived  at  Charles- 
town  about  sundown,  but  left  the  village  to  our  right,  and 
halted  in  the  fields  almost  in  sight  of  the  steeples  of  its 
churches.  Here  we  found  our  infantry  also  falling  back, 
with  its  main  column  headed  toward  Halltown. 

August  22d.  Our  horses,  which  had  stood  all  night 
saddled  and  ready  for  a  move  at  a  moment's  warning,  were 
in  use  with  the  first  light  of  morning.  The  enemy's 
cavalry,  displaying  a  little  more  daring  than  was  their  wont, 
advanced  upon  us  with  considerable  show  of  fight.  Their 
infantry  was  within  short  supporting  distance.  A  spirited 
skirmish  took  place,  and,  under  the  circumstances,  we  fol 
lowed  the  advice  of  the  poet,  who  sings  : 

"  He  who  fights  and  runs  away, 
Will  live  to  fight  another  day." 

We  retreated  to  Halltown,  and  moved  with  the  head  of  the 
column  to  the  left,  and  finally  halted  pretty  well  up  the 
river,  opposite  Maryland  Heights.  Within  our  bivouac 


16G  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

was  planted  the  Rebel  battery  that  had  killed  Col.  Miles, 
commanding  Harper's  Ferry,  on  a  former  occasion.  The 
spot  was  pointed  out  to  us  by  a  Mr.  M.,  a  citizen  in  the 
neighborhood,  who  presented  us  an  anomaly  commonly  met 
with  in  this  region  of  country,  of  a  man  making  high  pro 
fessions  of  Unionism,  and  yet  earnestly  pleading  for  Se 
cession. 

August  23rtf.  Under  light  marching  orders,  the  division 
went  out  on  a  reconnoissance  in  the  vicinity  of  Puffield's 
Station,  on  'the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  rail  road,  and  engaged  a 
heavy  force  of  the  enemy's  infantry.  The  fight  was  spirited 
but  brief,  and  our  forces  returned  to  camp  after  a  few  hours 
of  marching  and  fighting. 

August  25^A.  One  day's  uninterrupted  rest  had  been  en 
joyed  as  a  rare  luxury;  but  this  morning  at  three  o'clock  the 
hills  and  woods  were  ringing  with  reveille".  At  five  the 
division  was  in  motion  in  the  direction  of  Shepardstown,  not 
far  from  which  we  were  joined  by  the  first  division  of  cavalry. 
This  united  force  moved  to  Kearneysville  Station,  near 
which,  the  enemy,  under  Breckenridge,  was  met  advancing 
towards  Maryland  in  heavy  force.  Seldom  are  forces  so 
suddenly  and  furiously  engaged.  The  artillery  of  both 
parties  was  immediately  brought  into  position,  and  the  hills 
resounded  with  the  rapid  discharges  of  screaming  shell  and 
sweeping  grape  and  canister.  Before  the  quick  firing 
of  our  Spencers,  and  our  swift  charges,  the  enemy's 
column  at  first  recoiled  and  gave  us  a  decided  advantage 
over  him.  But  we  were  at  length  compelled  to  retreat 
before  superior  numbers,  that  were  lapping  around  our 
flanks.  In  this  engagement  the  regiment  behaved  with  its 
usual  gallantry.  Lieut.  Greenleaf,  in  command  of  Co.  A,  fell, 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  167 

mortally  wounded,  but  was  carried  from  the  field.  Nearly 
all  our  dead  and  wounded  remained  in  our  own  hands,  and 
were  taken  back  with  us.  We  returned  to  our  old  bivouac 
and  erected  our  tents  with  hopes  of  a  good  night's  rest. 
But  before  dark  we  were  ordered  to  pack  up  and  make 
preparations  for  a  night's  march. 

At  ten  P.  M.,  the  regiment  alone,  accompanied  with  a 
brigade  staff  officer,  moved  to  the  Potomac,  which  wo  crossed 
on  pontoons  at  the  foot  of  Maryland  Heights.  The  division 
moved  also,  but  by  some  other  route.  We  marched  until 
three  A.  M.,  and  halted  to  rest  our  weary  animals  and  our 
selves  at  the  memorable  Antietam  creek,  near  Autietam  Fur 
nace. 

August  2Qth.  At  one  P.  M.  we  resumed  our  march  to  Sharps- 
burg,  nearly  every  house  of  which  bears  marks  of  the  great 
battle  that  was  fought  here  in  1862.  Turning  to  the  right, 
the  column  passed  over  the  main  portion  of  the  battle  field, 
and  bivuacked  a  few  rods  beyond  Keedysville.  At  half  past 
nine  p.  M.,  through  pitchy  darkness,  we  were  counter 
marched  to  Sharpsburg.  On  the  way  we  encountered  one 
of  the  worst  thunder  storms  ever  witnessed.  The  rain  fell 
in  torrents,  driven  by  a  strong  wind.  The  frequent  light 
nings  cleft  the  darkness,  and  left  us  blinded  and  in  greater 
darkness  than  before.  The  thunder  roared  and  shook  the 
earth  beneath  us.  Some  of  our  horses  became  quite  un 
manageable,  and  rendered  our  march  perilous  as  well  as  un 
comfortable.  On  the  wet  ground,  after  this  shower,  we 
bivouacked  in  the  fields  near  the  town,  having  sent  out  a 
few  pickets  towards  the  river. 

August  27th.  We  picketed  in  front  of  Sharpsburg  till 
twelve  M.,  and  were  tWtn  sent  up  the  river  about  three  miles, 


168  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

to  picket  some  fords  near  Mercersville,  where  we  continued 
till  next  morning. 

August  28th.  Sunrise  found  us  with  our  pickets  with 
drawn,  and  in  line  of  march  towards  Sharpsburg,  where  we 
joined  the  division.  Again  our  faces  were  turned  towards 
Virginia,  and  we  were  soon  on  its  "sacred  soil,"  having  forded 
the  Potomac  a  short  distance  below  Shepardstown.  Slowly 
and  safely  we  advanced  to  Charlestown,  halting  by  the  rail 
road  to  allow  the  inliintry  to  pass  through  the  town  before 
us.  With  flying  colors  our  brave  boys  entered  this  very 
rebellious  village,  arid  the  bands  struck  up  the  air  of  Old 
John  Brown,  and  played  lustily  as  they  marched  through 
the  streets,  where  but  a  few  years  past  gathered  the  chivalry 
to  witness  the  execution  of  Old  Ossawatomie.  The  cavalry 
at  last  marched  on  in  rear  of  the  infantry,  and  encamped  in 
the  woods  not  far  from  town. 

Up  to  this  time  our  work  in  the  valley  had  been  very 
discouraging.  It  had  been  constant  marching  and  fighting, 
but  always  retreating.  The  Rebels  had  had  things  nearly 
all  their  own  way.  However,  we  had  prevented  their  cross 
ing  again  into  Maryland ;  and  now,  for  some  reason,  they 
were  falling  back  to  the  line  of  the  Opequan  creek.  Gen. 
Sheridan,  with  some  reinforcements,  was  now  advancing  to 
make  battle  in  terrible  earnest,  and  to  push  the  enemy,  if 
possible,  fur  from  the  states  he  was  so  anxious  to  invade. 

August  30th.  The  regiment  was  made  sad  this  morning 
by  the  departure  of  Col.  Hammond  from  its  command. 
(See  Mementos).  In  a  field  near  our  camp,  the  regiment 
was  formed  into  a  hollow  square,  and  the  colonel  took 
formal  leave.  He  undertook  to  speak  a  few  words,  but  was 
choked  by  emotion.  He  rode  forwdtt  to  the  officers,  who 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  169 

were  formed  in  front  and  centre,  and  shook  hands  with 
them.  He  then  addressed  a  few  parting  words  to  the  men, 
and  with  three  cheers  proposed  by  Lieut.  Col.  Bacon,  he 
passed  out  of  the  square,  and  left  us.  The  regiment  was 
immediately  formed  in  line  of  inarch,  and,  with  the  division, 
advanced  to  Berryville,  where  we  made  an  early  bivouac. 

September  2d.  As  we  have  not  full  feed  for  our  horses, 
our  men  are  compelled  to  forage  through  the  country,  and 
occasionally  squads  of  them  are  attacked  and  captured. 

During  the  night  our  position  was  flanked  on  the  right, 
and  this  morning  early  we  retreated  on  a  back  road  by  way 
of  Myerstown,  and  returned  to  the  pike  not  far  from 
Charlestown.  It  was  hoped  we  might  here  have  a  few  days' 
rest,  and  preparations  were  made  for  comfortable  shelters, 
but  about  sundown  the  woods  rang  with  "boots  and  sad 
dles."  Again  we  advanced  on  Berryville,  which  we  reached 
about  ten  p.  M.  We  found  the  place  occupied  by  the  enemy, 
who  retreated  after  a  brief  skirmish. 

September  3d.  The  division  advanced  this  morning  to 
Millwood  and  White  Post,  encountering  a  heavy  force  of 
the  enemy  a  little  beyond,  from  which  we  retired  without 
an  engagement.  The  rear  of  the  column  spent  the  night 
near  Millwood. 

September  kth.  The  command  was  made  happy  this 
morning  with  the  news  :  "  Atlanta  is  ours  !"  The  enemy's 
cavalry,  having  taken  possession  of  the  pike  between  us 
and  Berryville,  we  retreated  to  its  vicinity  by  means  of  a 
circuitous  route  toward  the  Blue  Ridge.  On  arriving  we 
found  that  the  enemy  held  the  town  in  force.  Our  artillery 
was  used  quite  extensively,  the  regiment  supporting  a  bat 
tery.  There  was  some  musketry  on  the  skirmish  line,  on 


170  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

which  the  regiment  lay  all  night,  having  been  relieved  from 
the  battery. 

September  5/A.  The  enemy  was  expelled  from  Berryville, 
and  retired  to  the  Opequan.  The  Fifth  New  York  was 
sent  on  picket.  A  cold  rain  storm  made  mud  for  us  and 
discomfort. 

September  lih.  The  day  dawned  bright  and  beautiful, 
after  the  storm.  The  division  went  out  on  the  White  Post 
road  some  distance,  and  turning  to  the  right,  proceeded  as 
far  as  the  Opequan,  where  we  had  a  heavy  skirmish  with 
the  enemy.  Returned  to  Berryville  at  night. 

September  §th.  The  regiment  spent  yesterday  and  to-day 
on  picket.  The  division  has  gone  into  camp  on  the  north 
side  of  the  pike.  A  large  force  of  our  infantry  is  also 
camped  near  by;  and  some  of  them  are  busy  building  earth 
works  across  the  pike  about  one  mile  east  of  Berryville. 

September  Wth.  The  regiment   was  relieved  from  picket, 

September  13th.  The  first  brigade  advanced  toward  Win 
chester  on  the  pike,  encountering  the  Kebel  pickets  at  the 
Opequan.  A  quick  dash  was  made  upon  their  reserve, 
within  two  miles  of  Winchester,  which,  after  a  short 
skirmish,  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  8th  South  Carolina 
volunteers.  Sixteen  officers,  including  their  colonel,  fell 
into  our  hands,  and  also  their  battle  flag.  The  brunt  of  the 
engagement  was  borne  by  the  3d  New  Jersey  and  the 
2d  Ohio  regiments  of  cavalry. 

At  the  expiration  of  eight  hours  from  the  time  the  brigade 
moved  out,  we  were  back  into  our  camps.  This  was  one 
of  the  most  brilliant  exploits  ever  performed  by  the  brigade. 

September  15^7i.  The  regiment  went  out  again  to  the 
Opequan  and  skirmished  with  the  enemy's  pickets. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  171 

September  IQth.  Spent  the  day  on  picket 

September  1.7th.  At  one  A.  M.  several  regiments  of  the 
1st  brigade  made  another  reconnoissance  to  the  Opequan. 
The  Fifth  went  mostly  through  the  woods  and  fields. 
Crossed  the  creek  at  Burnt  Factory,  where  a  skirmish  com 
menced  and  continued,  until  we  returned  to  the  creek,  on 
the  pike.  We  then  fell  back  to  camp  near  Berryville. 

September  ISth.  Regiment  on  picket. 

September  19f/i.  General  Sheridan  had  at  length  per 
fected  his  arrangements  for  a  general  move  upon  the  enemy. 
At  one  A.  M.  the  "general  call"  was  sounded,  tents  were 
struck,  and  all  due  preparation  made  for  the  march.  At 
two  o'clock  a  splendid  force  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  artil 
lery,  was  advancing  toward  Winchester.  The  2d  Xew  York 
had  the  advance,  followed  by  the  Fifth.  Before  daylight 
the  Rebel  cavalry  pickets  were  charged  at  the  Opequan, 
and  driven  hastily  before  us.  Believing  that  this  was  noth 
ing  more  than  a  repitition  of  the  many  reconnoissances 
and  raids,  we  had  recently  made,  the  Johnnies  were 
scarcely  prepared  for  the  onset  that  was  made  upon  them. 
Passing  around  a  heavy  barricade  across  the  pike,  the 
cavalry  waited  not  for  the  infantry  supports,  but  dashed  up 
the  road,  and  charged  the  enemy's  fortifications.  Before 
they  had  fairly  time  to  recover  from  this  unexpected  blow, 
they  were  struck  by  the  strong  lines  of  our  eager  infantry 
men,  and  shells  from  our  batteries  just  in  position,  fell  fast 
among  them.  And  now  commenced  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
engagements  of  the  war. 

Our  first  attack,  so  unexpected  and  furious,  gave  us  the 
enemy's  first  line  of  works.  This  was  a  decided  advantage, 
both  in  demoralizing  ihe  foe,  and  in  giving  us  a  better 


172  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

position.  The  contestants  soon  became  engaged  throughout 
the  entire  line,  extended  for  four  or  five  miles  across  the 
country. 

About  ten  o'clock,  by  a  persistent  effort  to  keep  his  army 
well  in  hand,  and  by  planting  his  artillery  on  the  hills  and 
chosen  positions  in  front  of  Winchester,  General  Early, 
commanding  the  Rebel  forces,  succeeded  in  checking  our 
advance.  A  terrible  contest  now  followed.  Forward  and 
backward,  advancing  and  receding,  surged  those  living  lines 
of  men  like  the  foamiug  waves  of  ocean.  But,  at  length, 
the  cavalry,  the  first  division  on  the  right,  the  third  on 
the  left,  succeeded  in  driving  in  and  enveloping  the  extreme 
wings  of  the  Rebel  army.  At  this  the  centre  of  their  line 
began  to  waver,  and,  ere  long,  the  whole  force  was  in  a 
swift  retreat  through  Winchester,  leaving  their  dead  and 
wounded  behind-them.  The  battle  had  raged  from  morning 
till  nearly  sundown,  and  the  field  was  strewn  thick  with 
the  wrecks  of  recently  proud,  brave  men. 

Five  distinct  charges  had  the  regiment  made  during  the 
day,  four  of  these  against  infantry.  In  one  of  these  charges, 
Capt.  Farley,  company  C,  while  gallantly  rallying  his  men, 
lost  his  right  leg,  which  was  taken  away  by  a  solid  shot 
or  shell.  It  was  amputated  above  the  knee.  In  another 
charge,  led  by  Gen.  Mclntosh  in  person,  the  general 
received  a  fearful  gunshot  wound  in  the  left  leg,  which  was 
amputated  below  the  knee.  We  had  sustained  a  heavy  loss, 
the  bitterness  of  which  was  mitigated  by  the  glorious  success 
which  had  crowned  our  effort. 

Notwithstanding  the  fatigue  of  our  horses  and  men,  we 
were  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  army.  Swinging 
around  Winchester  to  the  left,  we  tame  up  to  the  pike  just 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  173 

above  Milltown,  and  advanced  beyond  Kernstown,  where  we 
bivouacked  for  the  night. 

September  20th.  The  division  advanced  to  Newtown, 
and,  turning  to  the  left,  struck  the  Front  Royal  pike  at 
Nineveh,  which  we  followed  to  Crooked  Run,  where  the 
enemy  was  met,  and  a  slight  skirmish  followed. 

The  command  bivouacked  early  in  the  grassy  fields. 

September  21st.  The  division  was  early  on  the  move. 
The  morning  was  chilly  and  foggy.  The  North  Fork  She- 
nandoah  was  crossed  without  opposition,  and  the  enemy  was 
found  in  considerable  force  on  the  South  Fork.  He  was 
quickly  driven  from  his  strong  position,  leaving  his  spades 
and  pickaxes  in  the  trenches  he  was  constructing.  We 
pursued  him  rapidly  through  Front  Royal,  and  halted  to 
feed  our  horses  in  the  fine  corn  fields  beyond  the  town.  At 
three  p.  M.  we  moved  up  the  Luray  pike  to  Asbury  Church. 
This  road  is  exceedingly  romantic,  with  the  broad,  clear 
river  on  one  side,  and  the  lofty,  precipitous  rocks  on  the 
other. 

At  the  church  we  halted,  and  received  one  of  the 
most  fearful  shellings,  through  which  we  ever  passed,  from 
the  Rebel  batteries  posted  on  a  high,  commanding  hill. 
Several  regiments  of  the  brigade  broke  before  this  fire,  but 
the  Fifth  New  York  received  high  commendation  for  stand 
ing  firm.  We  built  our  bivouac  fires  by  the  church  at 
night. 

September  22d.  In  the  night  the  Rebels  retreated  up  the 
valley,  and  early  in  the  morning  we  gave  them  pursuit. 
We  followed  them  to  Milford  creek,  where  we  found  them 
strongly  intrenched  in  an  impregnable  position.  All  day 
we  skirmished  and  fought  with  them.  The  Fifth  New 


174  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

York  was  engaged  till  night,  when  the  division  fell  back, 
and  left  us  on  picket. 

September  23<f.  This  morning  the  whole  division  moved 
back  toward  Strasburg,  stopping  by  the  river  near  Water- 
lick  Station,  Manassas  Gap  rail  road.  Here  we  received 
Gen.  Sheridan's  dispatches  announcing  his  great  victory  at 
Fisher's  Hill.  They  were  read  to  the  division,  and  the  air 
was  rent  with  the  vociferous  cheering  of  our  men.  At  night 
we  were  again  advanced  up  the  Luray  Valley,  halting  after 
midnight  near  Milford  creek. 

September  24th.  During  our  absence  the  enemy  had 
abandoned  his  strong  position  at  Milford,  and  was  fleeing  up 
the  valley.  Before  sunrise  we  resumed  our  march.  Near 
Luray  where  the  valley  becomes  broad  and  beautiful,  the 
enemy  was  encountered  in  force  and  driven,  about  one  hun 
dred  prisoners  falling  into  our  hands.  They  were  all  loud 
in  their  denunciations  of  Gen.  Early,  the  "apple-jack 
bibber,"  as  many  of  them  called  him.  On  the  hills  beyond 
Luray  we  went  into  camp.  But  scarcely  had  we  cooked 
our  suppers,  when  "boots  and  saddles"  hurried  every  man 
to  his  horse,  and  in  an  incredibly  short  time  the  whole 
force  was  in  motion.  This  move  was  made  in  hopes  of  cap 
turing  the  enemy,  who  had  gone  up  the  mountains  toward 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  but,  finding  it  occupied  by  our 
forces,  was  compelled  to  descend  to  the  Luray  again.  How 
ever,  night  came  on  too  soon,  and,  in  the  darkness,  the  enemy 
slipped  out  of  our  hands.  We  forded  the  river,  and 
bivouacked  about  nine  o'clock,  in  a  settlement,  called  Mas- 
sanutten. 

September  25^.  This 'bright  Sabbath  morning  found  us 
vigorously  pursuing  our  march  over  the  Massanutten  inoun- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  175 

tains,  through  a  gap  from  which  a  splendid  view  is  obtained 
of  the  two  valleys,  which  this  range  separates,  the  Luray 
and  Shenandoah.  About  ten  A.  M.  we  arrived  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  Market,  where  we  met  our  supply  train. 
Commissaries  and  quartermasters  were  in  great  repute  just 
then,  as  were  also  the  sutlers  with  their  scanty  supplies  at 
enormous  prices.  We  were  camped  a  few  hours  in  the 
woods.  Here  we  received  a  good  mail. 

About  2  p.  M.  the  whole  command  started  up  the  valley, 
halting  near  our  vast  infantry  camps  at  Harrisonburg,  about 
eleven  o'clock. 

September  26th.  This  morning  the  cavalry  moved  up 
the  valley,  reaching  Staunton  at  dusk.  Not  far  from  town, 
on  the  road  to  Waynesboro',  we  bivouacked,  after  a  very 
fatiguing  journey. 

September  27th.  At  ten  A.  M.  the  regiment  was  detailed 
to  escort  Gen.  Custer  to  his  new  command,  lately  Gen. 
Averill's,  known  among  us  as  the  Second  division.  This  com 
mand  was  near  Port  Republic.  On  the  way  the  regiment  had 
a  fearful  skirmish  with  the  enemy  at  Mt.  Meridian.  How 
ever,  it  succeeded  in  getting  through,  with  the  general  unhurt. 

September  28th.  The  boys  were  early  on  their  way  to 
rejoin  the  division,  which  they  did  at  night,  just  after  the 
battle  of  Waynesboro',  in  which  a  good  number  of  the 
regiment  were  engaged.  The  division  was  now  retreating, 
and  a  long,  dreary  march  was  before  us.  We  passed 
through  Staunton,  and  followed  the  pike  down  about  two 
miles ;  then  turning  to  the  left,  we  followed  a  rough,  crook 
ed  road  that  led  us  to  the  Glade,  a  small  valley  near  the 
foot  of  the  North  or  Shenandoah  mountains.  We  journeyed 
all  night  long,  and  halted  for  breakfast  at  Spring  Hill. 
15 


176  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

September  29tk.  From  this  halt  the  regiment  was  rear 
guard  of  the  column.  A  slight  attack  was  made  on  us  and 
repelled.  Many  of  our  horses  gave  out  by  the  way  and 
were  shot.  The  division  took  possession  of  Bridgewater 
about  noon.  The  regiment  was  on  picket  till  night,  when 
it  camped  near  the  town. 

October  2d.  During  our  rest  here  our  horses  have  fared 
well  with  the  forage,  which  is  abundant  all  around  us,  and 
the  men  have  obtained  very  comfortable  subsistence  from, 
the  country.  Meanwhile,  General  Wilson  has  been  removed 
to  a  large  command  in  the  western  army,  and  General 
Custer  has  superseded  him  in  the  command  of  the  Third 
division. 

At  noon  the  command  broke  camp,  and  soon  after  the 
enemy's  cavalry  made  a  dash  on  our  pickets  and  succeeded 
in  penetrating  the  town.  They  were,  however;  driven  back 
with  some  loss.  Nearly  all  the  afternoon  skirmishing 
and  cannonading  have  been  going  on.  The  regiment 
had  a  dark,  unpleasant  night's  picketing  along  this  danger 
ous  line. 

October  3J.  On  picket  till  five  P.  M.  We  then  joined 
the  brigade  near  Dayton  and  went  into  camp. 

October  ±th.  In  retaliation  for  the  murder  of  Capt.  Meigs, 
son  of  Quartermaster  Gen.  Meigs*  near  Dayton,  by  some 
citizen  guerrillas,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  report  to 
Capt.  Lee,  provost  marshal  of  the  division,  to  burn  every 
building  within  a  circle  of  three  miles  from  the  scene  of 
the  murder.  This  was  the  most  heart-sickening  duty  we 
had  ever  performed.  Splendid  mansions  in  great  number, 
in  the  vicinity,  were  laid  in  ashes;  but  before  the  work 
of  burning  the  town  commenced,  the  order  was  coun- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  177 

termanded.     The  execution  of  such  orders,    however   just 
and  right,  has  a  very  demoralizing  effect  upon  the  men. 

October  Gth.  On  falling  back  from  the  upper  portion  of 
the  valley,  Gen.  Sheridan  ordered  all  stacks  or  ricks  of  hay 
or  grain,  or  the  same  in  barns,  to  be  destroyed  by  fire. 
Grist  mills  were  to  share  the  same  fate.  This,  precaution 
was  to  prevent  the  enemy's  ever  returning  to  subsist  his 
army  on  this  fruitful  country.  The  march  of  our  army 
could  now  be  traced  by  the  heavy  smokes,,  which  rose  on 
the  air. 

On  leaving  Dayton  this  morning  two  grist  mills  were 
destroyed.  The  enemy  followed  very  closely  on  our  rear. 
Not  far  from  Turleytown  near  Brock's  Gap,  he  made  a 
strong  attack,  in  a  position  very  advantageous  to  himself. 
By  dint  of  effort  and  fine  fighting  he  was  prevented  from 
doing  us  much  injury.  The  regiment  lay  all  night  on  the 
skirmish  line. 

October  7th.  We  continued  falling  back  on  the  moun 
tain  road,  and  were  rejoined  by  a  squadron  of  the  regiment, 
that  was  sent  to  Brock's  Gap  last  evening,  was  cut  off,  but 
succeeded  by  great  exertion  and  good  fortune,  to  pass 
unhurt  through  the  enemy's  lines.  At  Forestville  our 
column  was  attacked  by  a  strong  force.  During  the  skirm 
ish  we  lost  seven  forges,  including  ours,  several  ambulances, 
and  a  few  men.  Here  Sergeant  Whitney,  company  F,  then 
in  command  of  the  company,  lost  his  life  by  a  fatal  bullet, 
while  gallantly  struggling  to  repel  the  enemy. 

We  continued  our  march  to  Columbian  Furnace,  near 
which  we  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

October  8th.  As  usual  we  were  early  on  the  move.  The 
rear  guard  was  attacked  several  times  on  the  way.  We 


178  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

reached  Fisher's  Hill  bsfore  sundown,  find  were  sent  on 
picket  toward  Tom's  Brook. 

October  9th.  Annoyed  by  the  frequent  attacks  of  the 
enemy  on  our  rear  guards  and  pickets,  Gen.  Custer  resolved 
to  drive  him  from  the  vicinity.  So  facing  about  with  his 
division,  this  morning  he  advanced  upon  Generals  Rosser 
and  Lomax  in  a  fine  position  near  Tom's  Brook.  This 
was  a  pure  cavalry  fight,  and  one  of  the  most  spirited  of 
the  war.  Having  properly  planted  his  artillery,  and  dis 
posed  his  force  as  advantageously  as  possible,  the  general 
ordered  the  bugles  on  the  entire  line  to  sound  the  advance, 
and  leading  the  Fifth  New  York  in  person,  he  made  a  dash 
on  the  enemy's  central  position  in  the  road.  Our  color 
bearer,  Sergeant  Buckley,  company  C,  displayed  his  usual 
bravery,  bearing  our  flag  close  by  the  side,  and,  at  times, 
ahead  of  the  general's.  With  a  shout  and  a  dash,  with 
thundering  artillery  and  gleaming  sabres,  with  trusty  car 
bines  and  Yankee  grit,  our  boys  scattered  the  enemy  before 
them,  and  won  a  complete  victory.  On  the  pike  the  First 
division,  Gen.  Merritt  commanding,  made  a  clean  sweep  of 
the  enemy's  cavalry  on  their  front. 

October  llth.  This  afternoon  we  moved  to  the  pike, 
passed  through  Strasburg,  and  camped,  after  dark,  near 
Belle  Grove,  Gen.  Sheridan's  headquarters. 

October  I3th.  The  enemy  made  an  attack  on  our  cavalry 
pickets  on  Cedar  creek.  The  regiment  was  sent  out  to 
reenforce  the  pickets.  After  some  cannonading  and  skirm 
ishing,  the  enemy  withdrew,  and  the  pickets  were  reestab 
lished. 

October  14th.  The  regiment  went  on  a  reconnoissance  to 
Lebanon  church,  where  the  enemy  was  met,  and,  after  a 


FIFTH  KEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  179 


slight  skirmish,  we  returned  to  the  north  bank  of  Cedar 
creek. 

October  15th.  Went  on  picket  along  the  creek. 

October  IQth.  We  were  relieved  by  the  1st  Connecticut, 
and  came  back  to  the  brigade,  where  we  went  into  camp. 

October  I9th.  About  four  o'clock  A.  M.  we  were  aroused 
from  our  slumbers  by  an  attack  on  our  cavalry  pickets  at 
the  right  of  our  line.  This  was  followed  by  the  discharge 
of  signal  guns  down  the  Rebel  lines,  ending  with  a  fearful 
and  surprise  attack  on  the  8th  corps  (Gen.  Crook's),  which 
occupied  our  left.  Here  the  men  were  killed  and  captured 
in  their  tents,  and  nearly  the  whole  camp,  with  sutlers' 
wagons,  trains,  and  several  pieces  of  artillery,  fell  into  the 
enemy's  hands.  Driven  back  in  confusion,  panic-stricken, 
the  left  of  the  19th  corps  (Gen.  Emory's),  was  uncovered 
and  exposed  to  a  withering  fire  from  the  exultant  foe.  Many 
of  our  brave  fellows  fell  while  contesting  this  central  and 
important  position.  But  our  fortified  lines  had  to  be 
abandoned,  and  the  old  6th  corps  (Gen.  Wright's)  came 
under  the  flank  fire  of  the  advancing  columns. 

Nine  o'clock,  and  our  lines  had  been  driven  back  about 
three  miles,  and  disaster  had  followed  us  at  every  step.  A 
deep  gloom  had  settled  upon  the  army.  The  absence  of 
Gen.  Sheridan  was  deeply  felt  by  all.  But  about  ten  o'clock, 
loud  cheering  in  the  rear,  taken  up  by  centre  and  front, 
announced  that  the  hero  of  the  Shenandoah  had  arrived 
upon  the  field  of  carnage.  His  black  charger,  reeking  with 
foam,  and  covered  with  dust,  had  brought  him  in  quick 
haste  from  Winchester. 

"  The  first  that  the  general  saw  were  the  groups 
Of  stragglers  and  the  retreating  troops. 


180  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

What  was  done,  what  to  do,  a  glance  told  him  "both  ; 

Then,  striking  his  spurs  with  a  terrible  oath, 

He  dashed  down  the  line  mid  a  storm  of  huzzas, 

And  the  wave  of  retreat  checked  its  course  there,  because 

The    sight  of  the  master  compelled  it  to  pause." 

The  tide  of  battle  immediately  turned.  Every  man  became 
suddenly  transformed  into  two  men,  and  the  general's  pres 
ence  gave  a  foretaste  of  victory.  The  meeting  of  the 
generals  was  exceedingly  affecting.  Hats  and  caps  were 
thrown  into  the  air,  and  tears  fell  from  their  eyes  like  rain. 
Old  gray-headed  heroes  sobbed  like  girls.  Ouster,-  the  dar 
ing,  terrible  demon  that  he  is  in  battle,  caught  Sheridan  in 
his  arms,  but  was  unable  to  utter  a  word  !  It  was  no  time 
for  sentiment.  While  consulting  with  his  generals  the 
alarming  intelligence  reached  Sheridan  that  the  enemy's 
cavalry  was  rapidly  moving  to  flank  him  on  the  right. 

"  Custer,  I  can  trust  you  with  the  work  of  driving  back 
this  force,"  he  said,  after  looking  around  him  for  a  moment. 
No  time  was  lost,  and  the  work  was  successfully  performed. 

Inch  by  inch  the  Rebel  lines  gave  way,  until  about  sun 
set,  when  our  artillery  opened  along  our  entire  line  with  a 
galling  fire.  Then  came  the  impetuous  charge  of  our  entire 
force,  with  the  usual  war-cry,  more  terrific  than  cannon's 
awful  bellowing,  and  then,  too,  came  the  disastrous  rout  of 
the  enemy.  At  this  juncture  the  ever-ready  Third  division 
of  cavalry  made  a  grand  dash  at  the  fugacious  Johnnies. 
A  glance  to  the  rear  showed  them  closed  in  a  solid  body, 
their  sabres  flashing  dimly  through  the  smoke  of  that  terri 
ble  field.  No  cheering  now ;  nothing  but  the  thundering 
tread  of  the  columns,  announcing  our  approach  to  the  enemy, 
as  we  swept  into  the  fire.  The  creek  had  been  forded,  and 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  181 

only  half  a  mile,  before  we  could  reach  the  guns  that  were 
belching  shot  and  shell  at  our  troopers.  The  bugles  again 
sounded  the  charge,  and  with  a  cheer  we  rode  straight  for 
the  foe.  It  was  a  maddening  time.  The  Rebels  delivered 
one  fierce  volley,  and  the  next  instant  the  pitiless  sabres  of 
our  men  and  the  iron  heels  of  the  horses  were  doing  their 
work.  For  three  miles  the  charge  continued,  the  bloody 
ground,  the  broken  muskets,  the  dead  and  wounded,  told 
its  ferocity.  Only  the  darkness  of  night  put  an  end  to  the 
slaughter.  Never  in  this  war  was  so  much  gained.  Sheri 
dan's  victory  was  complete. 

Interesting  accounts  of  extraordinary  valor  in  the  regiment 
may  be  found  in  the  chapter  of  registers  of  companies. 
The  following  article,  with  receipt,  from  a  New  York  daily, 
will  show  how  the  regirne'nt -behaved  on  this  memorable  day  : 

Among  the  regiments  that  participated  in  Sheridan's  vic 
tory  of  October  19th,  none  equaled  the  success  of  the  Fifth 
New  York  Cavalry.  The  following  interesting  and  important 
receipt  for  property,  captured  by  the  regiment  has  been  issued  : 

Headquarters  First  Brigade,  ")    " 
Third  Cavalry  Division,0ct.  21st,  1864.  f 

Received  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  commanded  by 
Major  A.  H.  Krom,  twenty-two  pieces  of  artillery,  fourteen 
caissons,  one  battery  wagon,  seventeen  army  wagons,  six 
spring  wagons  and  ambulances,  eighty-three  sets  of  artillery 
harness,  seventy-five  sets  of  wagon  harness,  ninety-eight 
horses,  sixty-seven  mules,  captured  in  action  in  the  battle 
of  the  19th  of  October,  1864,  on  Cedar  creek,  Va. 
A.  C.  M.  PENNINGTON,  JR., 

Colonel  Commanding  Brigade. 
Adjutant's  General's  Office,  Oct.  25,  1864. 
[A  true  copy.]  E.  D.  TOWNSEND,  A.  A.  Gr. 


182  HISTORIC  EECOEDS. 

To  this  receipt  might  have  been  added  two  battle  flags 
and  many  prisoners.  The  following  congratulatory  order 
was  issued  and  promulgated  to  his  division  by  General 
Ouster : 

Headquarters,Third  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  \ 
Middle  Military  Division,  October  21,  1804.  / 

Soldiers  of  the  Third  Cavalry  Division: 

With  pride  and  gratification  your  commanding  general 
congratulates  you  upon  your  brilliant  achievements  of  the 
past  few  days. 

On  the  ninth  of  the  present  month  you  attacked  a  vastly 
superior  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  strongly  posted,  with 
artillery  in  position,  and  commanded  by  that  famous  "savior 
of  the  Valley,"  Rosser. 

Notwithstanding  the  enemy's  superiority  in  numbers  and 
position,  you  drove  him  twenty  miles,  capturing  his  artillery, 
six  pieces  in  all ,  also  his  entire  train  of  wagons  and  ambu 
lances,  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  Again,  during 
the  memorable  engagement  of  the  nineteenth  instant,  your 
conduct  throughout  was  sublimely  heroic,  and  without  a 
parallel  in  the  annals  of  warfare.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
day,  when  disaster  and  defeat  seemed  to  threaten  our  noble 
army  upon  all  sides,  your  calm  and  determined  bearing, 
while  exposed  to  a  terrible  fire  from  the  enemy's  guns, 
added  not  a  little  to-  restore  confidence  to  that  portion  of 
our  army  already  broken  and  driven  back  on  the  right. 

Afterwards,  rapidly  transferred  from  the  right  flank  to 
the  extreme  left,  you  materially  and  successfully  assisted  in 
defeating  the  enemy  in  his  attempt  to  turn  the  left  flank  of 
our  army.  Again  ordered  on  the  right  flank,  you  attacked 
and  defeated  a  division  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  driving  him 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  183 

in  confusion  across  Cedar  creek.  Then  changing  your  front 
to  the  left  at  a  gallop,  you  charged  and  turned  the  left 
flank  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle,  and  pursued  his  broken 
and  demoralized  army  a  distance  of  five  niiles.  Night 
alone  put  an  end  to  your  pursuit. 

Among  the  substantial  fruits  of  this  great  victory,  you 
can  boast  of  having  captured  five  battle  flags,  a  large  num 
ber  of  prisoners,  including  Major  Gen.  Ramseur,  and  forty- 
five  of  the  forty-eight  pieces  of  artillery  taken  from  the 
enemy  on  thattday,  thus  making  fifty-one  pieces  of  artillery 
which  you  have  captured  from  the  enemy  within  the  short 
period  of  ten  days. 

This  is  a  record  of  which  you  may  well  be  proud,  a  record 
won  and  established  by  your  gallantry  and  perseverance. 
You  have  surrounded  the  name  of  the  Third  cavalry  division 
with  a  halo  as  enduring  as  time. 

The  history  of  this  war,  when  truthfully  written,  will 
contain  no  brighter  page  than  that  upon  which  is  recorded 
the  chivalrous  deeds,  and  glorious  triumphs  of  the  soldiers 
of  the  Third  division. 

G.  A.  CUSTER, 

Brigadier  General  Commanding. 

Ofl&cial:  Chs.  Siebert,  Captain  and  A.  A.  G. 

On  the  19th  of  September  we  gave  the  Rebels  a  thorough 
whipping  at  Winchester;  on  the  19th  of  October  we  repeated 
the  operation  with  a  double  dose  on  Cedar  creek,  each  time 
with  the  19th  corps  in  the  centre  of  the  line,  giving  us  an 
arithmetical  assemblage  worthy  of  remembrance  by  the 
American  people. 

It  was  quite  late  at  night  when  the  pursuit  was  discon 
tinued,  and  the  troops  returned  to  their  "old  campground." 


184  HISTORIC   RECORDS. 

October  2Qth.  The  division  went  out  on  a  reconnoissance 
to  Tom's  Brook  on  the  mountain  road,  but  captured  only  a 
few  stragglers.  The  column  returned  to  camp  but  the  Fifth 
was  left  on  picket  at  the  Cedar  creek  neighborhood.  Major 
Boice  took  command. 

October  2lst.  The  2d  Ohio  relieved  us  about  sundown, 
and  we  came  near  brigade  headquarters  into  camp. 

On  the  25th  and  31st  we  took  our  tour  at  picketing. 

November  5th.  The  regiment  went  out  on  a  reconnoissance 
toward  Roinney.  It  returned  at  night,  alter.a  tedious,  cold 
and  fruitless  march. 

November  Sth.  The  whole  army  broke  camp  and  moved 
near  Kernstown,  where  it  is  expected  we  may  build  winter 
quarters. 

November  9th.  The  first  brigade  was  sent  out  on  the 
mountain  road  near  Zion  Church,  where  a  picket  line  was 
established. 

November  12th.  The  enemy's  cavalry  drove  in  our  pickets 
this  morning,  and  made  their  appearance  very  near  our 
camp.  The  First  brigade  went  out  and  drove  them  beyond 
Cedar  creek,  after  an  exciting  engagement.  Col.  Hull,  of 
the  2d  New  York,  while  pushing  on  at  the  head  of  his  men, 
was  killed.  He  was  a  gallant  young  officer,  who  had  but 
recently  borne  the  eagle.  He  was  generally  lamented. 

We  returned  to  our  camps  at  night,  after  severely 
punishing  the  enemy. 

November  13th.  A  reconnoissance  was  made  to  Cedar 
creek,  but  the  enemy  was  not  discovered. 

November  21s/.  The  Second  and  Third  divisions  started 
up  the  valley  on  a  reconnoissance.  The  whole  force  bi 
vouacked  in  and  about  Woodstock  at  night. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  187 

November  22d.  The  advance,  at  Edinburg,  captured  the 
Rebel  outpost  of  pickets  this  morning,  and  as  rapidly  as  pos 
sible  the  whole  force  advanced  to  the  Shenandoah  beyond 
Mt.  Jackson,  where  a  strong  picket  line  was  encountered. 
The  Second  division  was  moved  across  the  river,  with  a 
portion  of  the  Third  division,  and  advanced  in  skirmish  line 
near  Rood's  Hill,  where  it  developed  the  power  of  the  enemy, 
who  came  out  in  three  well-formed  lines  of  battle.  To 
ascertain  the  position  and  force  of  the  enemy  was  all  we  had 
intended.  Having  accomplished  this  to  our  satisfaction,  all 
we  desired  was  to  escape  from  this  force  with  the  least  possi 
ble  injury.  This  was  not  done,  however,  without  a  hard- 
fought  battle.  In  this  engagement  the  regiment  performed 
deeds  of  the  most  wonderful  daring,  preventing  a  flank 
movement  on  the  column  by  the  enemy's  cavalry.  About 
three  P.  M.  we  succeeded  in  dealing  our  pursuers  such 
a  blow,  as  to  enable  us  to  fall  back  unmolested.  The  main 
force  returned  to  Woodstock,  and  halted  for  the  night 
The  Fifth,  however,  was  left  to  picket  the  rear  along  Stony 
creek.  The  night  was  very  cold,  occasioning  some  suffering. 

November  2od.  A  cold  march,  over  frozen  ground,  brought 
us  back  again  to  our  camp  near  the  sources  of  the  Opequan, 
about  three  miles  from  Kernstown. 

November  2±lh.  This  evening,  after  feasting  on  our 
Thanksgiving  chickens  and  turkeys,  sent  us  by  Our  friends 
in  the  north,  the  regiment  was  made  doubly  thankful  by 
receiving  an  order  from  General  Sheridan  detailing  us  for 
his  escort. 

November  25th.  Obedient  to  the  order,  we  reported  to 
General  Sheridan  at  nine  A.  M.,  and  were  ordered  into  camp 
near  his  headquarters  at  Kernstown. 


188  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Quite  an  effort  was  made  by  some  high  officials  to  get  the 

regiment  back  to  the  brigade,  but  the  general  said,   "  What 

I  have  written,  I  have  written." 

As  our  campaigning  is  now  ended  for  the  season,  with 

pleasure  we  append  the  following  result  of  Gen.  Sheridan's 

work  in  the  valley : 

Prisoners  captured  at  Winchester  (well) 2,200 

Prisoners  captured  at   Winchester  (wounded) 2,000 

Prisoners  captured  at  Fisher's  Hill 900 

Prisoners  captured   on  the  march  beyond  and  since  and 

before  the  battle 1,600 

Prisoners  captured  at  Cedar  creek % 2,000 

Total  prisoners 8,600 

Cannon  captured  near  Martinsburg 2 

Cannon  captured  on  the  Opequan 5 

Cannon  captured  at  Fisher's  Hill 21 

Cannon   captured    in  cavalry  battle 11 

Cannon  captured  at  Cedar  creek 50 

Total 89 

Small  arms  captured  at  Winchester 6,000 

Small  arms  captured  at  Fisher's  Hill 1,100 

Small  arms  captured  at  Cedar  creek  (say) 5,000 

Total 12,100 

Caissons  captured  at  Winchester 4 

Caissons  captured  at  Fisher's  Hill 9 

Caissons  captured  at  Cedar  creek  (say) 12 

Total 25 

Wagons  captured  at  different  points 160 

Wagons  captured  at  Cedar  creek 100 

Total 200 

December    1st.    The   regiment   escorted  the   general  to 
Sheridan   hospital  near  Winchester,  where  we  witnessed 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  189 

the  ceremony  of  a  flag  raising,  a  flag  presented  by  the  Union 
ladies  of  the  town.  There  was  a  large  and  brilliant  assem 
blage  of  smiling  ladies,  and  gayly  dressed  officers,  and  not  a 
few  of  our  brave  boys  seated  on  benches  and  chairs,  who 
had  lost  arms,  legs,  health,  &c.,  for  the  proud  flag,  whose 
floating  to-day  they  cheered  with  happy  voices. 

December  14/7i.  "We  escorted  the  general  to  his  new  head 
quarters  at  the  Logan  mansion  in  Winchester.  The  regi 
ment  was  ordered  to  build  winter  quarters,  which  work  was 
begun  near  the  town  on  west  side  of  the  road  to  Martins- 
burg.  Nearly  the  whole  army  has  constructed  or  is  con 
structing  its  winter  quarters. 

December  31s£.  The  old  year  is  dying,  with  the  pure 
white  snow  for  her  winding  sheet  and  the  hoarse  winds  for 
her  requiem.  These  are  solemn  hours  to  the  Christian 
soldier.  Memory  recalls  the  terrible  dangers  through 
which  he  has  passed  and  the  awful  scenes  he  has  witnessed. 
His  heart  swells  with  gratitude  to  the  Great  Preserver  for 
the  gift  of  safety,  and  he  prays  for  courage  and  strength  to 
be  faithful  and  efficient  until  his  work  is  done. 


16 


CHAPTER  XI. 

General  Sheridan's  Last  Raid.  —  Up  the  Valley  —  Battle  of 
Waynesboro'.  —  Many  Prisoners. —In  Charge  of  the  Regi 
ment, —  Rosser  Annoys  Rear  of  Column.  —  Battle  of  Rood's 
Hill.  —  Rosser  Defeated.  —  Fall  of  Richmond.  —  Lee  Surren 
ders. —  Suburbs  of  Winchester.  —  Rebel  Soldiers  Anxious  to 
be  Paroled.  —  Expedition  to  Staunton. — Preparation  to  Muster 
out  the  Regiment. — Camp  Illumination. — Last  Order  of  Col. 
White.  — Journey  to  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor.  — The  Fifth 
New  York  Cavalry  is  No  More.  — January  1st  to  July  2Gth,  1805. 

January  10?7t.  Several  of  General  Sheridan's  scouts,  ac 
companied  by  a  detail  of  the  regiment,  made  a  demonstra 
tion  on  the  Rebel  pickets,  near  Edinburg,  capturing  a  good 
number.  Returning  they  tarried  too  long  at  Woodstock, 
where  they  were  attacked  by  a  large  force,  the  prisoners 
liberated  and  some  of  the  party  captured. 

January  2?,d.  An  affair  quite  similar  to  the  above  oc 
curred  at  Edinburg.  Our  loss  was  larger  than  before. 

February  23c?.  The  regiment  went  out  on  a  reconnois- 
sance  to  Newtown,  White  Post,  Millwood,  and  returned  at 
eleven  o'clock  at  night,  without  seeing  even  the  semblance 
of  an  enemy. 

February  27/7i.  A  grand  cavalry  movement  was  com 
menced  to-day,  the  fruit  of  which  will  compare  favorably 
with  any  other  movement  during  the  war  Gen.  Sheridan, 
with  the  cavalry  of  the  valley,  moved  out  toward  Staunton 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  191 

about  ten  o'clock.  The  regiment  accompanied  him.  The 
column  moved  as  rapidly  as  possible  up  the  Valley  pike, 
which  is  one  of  the  finest  highways  of  the  country,  and  in 
good  condition  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 

March  1st.  The  advance  reached  the  vicinity  of  Waynes- 
boro',  the  headquarters  of  General  Early,  commanding 
llebel  forces.  Here  the  Third  division  again  proved  itself 
worthy  of  the  renown  it  had  acquired.  With  his  usual 
daring  Gen.  Custer  advanced  his  division  upon  the  Rebel 
camp.  All  resistance  was  fruitless.  Our  men  swept  around 
this  ill-starred  army  and  enveloped  them  like  fish  in  a 
net.  Gen.  Early  barely  escaped,  by  cunningly  dodging 
into  a  thicket,  pursued  closely  by  the  horsemen.  His  staff 
officers  and  nearly  his  entire  force  fell  into  our  hands, 
making  a  total  of  about  1,400  prisoners.  His  artillery, 
camp  and  garrison  equipage  and  stores  were  either  appro 
priated  to  our  own  use  or  destroyed,  mostly  the  latter.  This 
was  but  the  beginning  of  achievements,  which  place  the 
name  of  Sheridan  among  the  first  heroes  of  modern  times. 

Encumbered  by  so  great  a  crowd  of  prisoners,  the  general 
concluded  to  send  them  to  the  rear  by  way  of  Winchester. 
This  was  no  small  task,  to  guard  upward  of  a  thousand 
men  nearly  a  hundred  miles  through  a  country  infested  by 
guerrillas,  and  by  the  forces  of  General  Rosser.  This  task 
was  committed  to  the  Fifth  New  York,  with  detachments  of 
other  regiments,  and  a  promiscuous  lot  of  dismounted  men, 
and  of  men  whose  ^horses  were  well-nigh  "played  out," 
making  a  command  about  one  thousand  strong. 

Retaining  with  himself  such  of  the  regiment  as  were 
orderlies  for  his  staff  officers,  messengers,  color  bearers,  &c., 
the  general  pursued  his  journey  over  the  Blue  Ridge,  cap- 


192  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

hired  cities  and  prisoners,  destroyed  rail  roads,  canals  and 
other  public  property,  eluded  the  enemy  by  the  swiftness  of 
his  motion,  and,  after  inflicting  irreparable  injury,  rested 
his  brave,  tired  squadrons  near  White  House  Landing. 
But  he  was  ready  for  the  opening  campaign  near  Peters 
burg,  where  he  covered  himself  and  his  men  with  glory,  at 
Dinwiddie,  Five  Forks  and  Appomattox,  surrounding  the 
enemy  at  last  and  compelling  him  to  a  hasty  surrender. 
From  this  digression  we  return  to  the  main  body  of  the 
regiment. 

The  roads  from  Waynesboro',  cut  down  by  the  train,  the 
pontoon  wagons  and  the  artillery,  and  trampled  by  the  long 
lines  of  cavalry,  were  almost  impassable.  Along  these  the 
guard  and  prisoners  floundered,  traveling  in  the  fields 
where  they  could,  and  finally  rejoiced  to  have  struck  the 
firm  macadamized  pike  near  Staunton.  Here  supplies  of  flour 
and  meat  were  obtained  in  abundance,  and  the  command 
was  prepared  to  undertake  its  long,  perilous  march  to  Win 
chester. 

At  Mt.  Sidney  a  considerable  body  of  Rosser's  men 
made  their  appearance,  and  attacked  the  rear  guard.  They 
were  repelled  after  a  brief  skirmish,  during  which  Edward 
Morton,  company  M,  had  a  ball  wound  his  horse  and  another 
pass  through  his  canteen  full  of  sorghum,  letting  out  the 
contents.  Occasional  shots  were  exchanged  with  these 
pursuers,  who  hung  on  our  rear,  all  the  way.  At  Lacey 
Springs,  their  numbers  having  been  increased,  they  made 
quite  a  demonstration.  This  was  renewed  with  new  zeal 
and  numbers  at  New  Market,  while  the  force  was  gathering 
on  every  side  to  contest  the  passage  of  the  Shenandoah  near 
Mt.  Jackson.  On  the  morning  of  the  seventh  of  March,  the 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  193 

command  was  ready  to  cross  the  river.  The  Fifth  was 
again  rear  guard.  G-cn.  Rosser,  intent  on  releasing  the 
prisoners,  had  collected  his  force,  and,  coming  down  Rood's 
Hill,  charged  on  the  column.  Col.  Boice,  commanding  the 
regiment,  suddenly  changed  direction,  held  his  men  in  good 
line,  each  reserving  his  fire  until  the  enemy  had  approached 
within  a  few  rods,  then  ordering  and  leading  the  charge, 
he  fell  with  a  crushing  blow  upon  the  enemy.  The  John 
nies,  not  expecting  such  a  dash,  wheeled  about  and  under 
took  to  fly,  but  weje  prevented  doing  so  rapidly  on  account 
of  the  mud  of  the  field  where  they  were.  A  hand  to  haud 
contest  of  unusual  excitement  followed,  in  which  the  most 
daring  deeds  were  done.  Col.  Boice,  having  emptied  every 
chamber  of  his  revolver,  unhorsed  six  Rebel  troopers  with 
the  butt.  The  affair  resulted,  not  in  the  release  of  the 
prisoners  as  fondly  hoped  by  Rosser,  but  in  the  capture  of 
thirty- five  of  his  men,  the  killing  of  quite  a  number,  and 
the  dispersion  of  his  entire  force.  Our  boys  went  on  their 
way  rejoicing,  and  crossed  the  river  unmolested,  while  a 
few  of  the  beaten  Rebels  grinned  at  them  from  Rood's  Hill, 
beyond  carbine  range. 

The  remainder  of  the  march  was  quite  pleasant,  and  the 
arrival  of  the  column  at  Winchester,  the  eighth  of  March, 
was  hailed  with  a  salute  from  the  First  Maine  battery. 

The  regiment  returned  to  camp,  and  the  prisoners  were 
sent  on  to  Harper's  Ferry.  The  regiment  was  now  subject 
to  orders  from  Gen.  Hancock,  who  had  the  temporary  com 
mand  of  the  forces  in  and  about  Winchester. 

March  13^A.  The  regiment  went  on  a  reconnoissance  to 
Berryville.  Deserters  from  the  Rebel  lines  are  daily  coming 
in  our  own,  and  giving  themselves  up. 


194  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

March  16th.  The  paymaster  is  making  us  a  friendly  call, 
and  is  relieving  himself  freely  of  "  stamps,"  as  the  boys 
call  his  greenbacks. 

March  29th.  The  regiment  had  the  honor  of  being 
reviewed  by  two  generals  with  their  staffs,  namely,  Hancock 
and  Torbert.  Gen.  Hancock  was  heard  to  say,  "  Well 
done/'  on  witnessing  some  swift  evolutions,  which  gave 
the  boys  peculiar  satisfaction. 

April  3d.  Swift  telegrams  announce  Gen.  Sheridan's 
victorious  battles  below  Petersburg,  and  the  fall  of  Rich 
mond  !  Batteries  rend  the  air  with  their  salutes,  and 
bands  of  music  fill  the  intervals  with  joyful  airs.  The 
evening  has  been  made  luminous  with  fireworks  from  the 
signal  tower  on  Logan  mansion,  and  bonfires  in  the  streets. 

AfirilStli.  Midnight!  and  the  booming  cannon  announce 
the  surrender  of  General  Lee  and  the  army  of  Northern 
Virginia.  Aroused  from  their  slumbers  the  soldiers  and 
some  citizens  rush  to  Gen.  Hancock's  headquarters,  a  happy, 
almost  crazy  throng.  The  Logan  mansion  shines  with  an 
illumination,  the  signal  tower  blazes  with  fireworks,  bells 
ring,  bands  discourse  patriotic  music,  flags  are  paraded 
through  the  streets,  and  the  multitude  grows  hoarse  with 
cheering.  The  whole  night  is  filled  with  jubilation. 

April  l&th.  All  are  filled  with  gloom  at  the  news  of  the 
assassination  of  our  beloved  President  last  evening.  Thus 
the  bitterest  cup  is  tendered  to  the  lips  of  the  people  in  the 
midst  of  their  highest  joy  over  past  victories.  Freedom's 
noblest  champion,  a  nation's  great  chief,  falls  a  martyr  to 
his  cause ! 

April  21th.  It  has  been  a  busy  day,  breaking  up  winter 
quarters,  and  removing  into  a  grassy  field  about  a  mile  from 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  195 

town  near  the  Romney  pike.  We  are  now  merged  into  a 
Provisional  brigade  of  cavalry,  under  command  of  Col. 
Reno.  Before  leaving  sight  of  Winchester,  we  should  say, 
that  though  it  does  not  appear  as  when  first  visited  by  the 
regiment  in  1862,  it  still  presents  some  objects  of  interest. 
Near  by  it  on  the  Romney  pike  are  the  ruins  of  the  man 
sion  of  James  M.  Mason  (Mason  and  Slidell),  once  the 
headquarters  of  Gen.  Banks. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  town,  in  an  old  cemetery,  is  the 
grave  of  "  Major  Gen.  Daniel  Morgan,  who  died  in  1808," 
of  revolutionary  fame.  The  marble  slab  is  of  poor  quality, 
and  has  been  wantonly  broken  piece  by  piece,  for  the  sake 
of  relics,  until  the  inscription  is  partially  obliterated. 

To  the  east  of  this  cemetery  is  the  Union  soldiers'  sleeping 
place,  a  parterre  enclosed  with  a  neat  board  fence,  and 
whose  straight  rows  of  graves  with  their  uniform  head 
boards,  painted  white  with  black  inscriptions,  present  a 
scene  thrillingly  interesting.  This  graveyard  is  contiguous 
to  the  Winchester  cemetery,  whose  monuments  and  tomb 
stones  show  marks  of  the  many  battles  which  have  been 
fought  in  this  vicinity. 

April  29^/i.  Fragments  of  the  Rebel  army  are  constantly 
coming  in,  even  guerrillas,  who  were  scarcely  expected  to 
give  up  their  work  so  soon.  They,  too,  are  eager  for  their 
parole,  sick  at  heart  with  the  war,  and  glad  to  return  to 
more  peaceful  pursuits. 

A  salute  was  fired  to-day  on  the  reception  of  a  telegram 
announcing  the  surrender  of  Johnston  and  his  army  to 
Gen.  Sherman. 

May  4th.  At  seven  this  morning  the  regiment  moved  out 
with  a  brigade  of  infantry,  the  whole  in  command  of  Brig. 


196  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Gen.  Duval,  on  the  way  to  Staunton.  The  march  was  per 
formed  quietly,  resembling  more  a  picnic  party,  than  an 
assemblage  of  warriors. 

We  were  everywhere  received  with  cordiality,  having 
nothing  to  offer  but  "  peace  and  good  will "  to  all  law- 
abiding  citizens.  Farmers  are  in  their  fields,  mechanics  in 
their  shops,  merchants  display  their  scanty  stores,  and  a  new 
life  is  manifested  on  every  side. 

May  $th.  The  expedition  reached  Stauuton,  and  camped 
in  an  about  the  town.  It  is  remarkable  how  readily  paroled 
llebel  soldiers  affiliate  with  us,  and  how  anxiously  those  who 
are  not  paroled  seek  their  papers.  The  rank  and  file  of  the 
llebel  army  will  return  to  a  cordial  submission  to  our  laws, 
more  readily  than  the  people  generally,  who  have  simply 
looked  on  the  conflict. 

May  VZtli.  The  regiment  went  out  with  two  days'  rations 
and  forage,  under  light  marching  orders,  to  Lexington, 
where  they  captured  or  arrested  Ex-Governor  Letcher,  and 
brought  him  to  Staunton,  arriving  on  the  20th.  This  ex 
pedition  was  quite  a  relief  from  the  monotonous  life,  which 
we  are  now  living.  There  is  not  enough  to  do  to  keep  up 
our  energies.  And  as  the  war  is  over,  and  we  have  accom 
plished  the  work  we  came  out  to  do,  there  is  a  very  general 
desire  that  we  may  be  mustered  out  and  sent  home  at  an 
early  day.  Several  officers  and  men  have  sought  to  dissi 
pate  the  ennui  of  our  situation,  by  visiting  Weyer's  Cave, 
near  Port  Republic  on  the  South  Fork  Shenandoah. 

June  Sth.  Under  order  No.  83,  Adjutant-General's  Office, 
mustering  out  all  men  whose  term  of  service  expires  pre 
vious  to  October  1st,  we  lost  quite  a  large  number  of  our  men 
to-day,  who  left  us  for  home.  It  was  hard  in  many  in- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  197 

stances  to  sever  the  attachments  that  have  been  formed 
during  our  peculiar  life  and  acquaintance. 

Jane  \1tli.  The  regiment  gladly  obeyed  orders  to  return 
to  Winchester.  We  commenced  our  march  at  five  P.  M.,  with 
the  design  of  marching  mostly  in  the  cool  of  evening  and 
night,  and  of  resting  during  the  heat  of  day.  Our  march 
was  pleasantly  performed,  and  we  reached  Winchester 
about  noon  of  the  15th,  and  Ditched  our  tents  in  Camp 
Hammond,  which  we  had  left. 

July  15th.  Busy  preparations  are  being  made  and  are 
nearly  completed  for  the  mustering  out  of  the  regiment. 
Consequently  general  gladness  prevails  in  camp.  This 
inward  joy  was  manifested  this  evening  by  a  grand  camp 
illumination.  Candles  were  placed  in  rows  upon  the  tents 
and  carried  up  into  the  trees  of  the  woods  where  we  are 
encamped.  Bonfires  were  built  in  the  company  streets,  and 
torches  were  carried  in  procession.  Several  officers  of  the 
field  and  staff  were  cheered,  and  Col.  White  was  called  out 
for  a  speech,  which  he  made.  The  entertainment  closed  by 
hanging  and  burning  Jeff.  Davis  in  effigy.  Those  who  wit 
nessed  the  novel  scenes  of  the  evening  will  not  soon  forget 
them. 

July  IStJi.  This  morning  the  regiment  received  the  last 
general  order  ever  issued  to  it. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  Fifth  X.  Y.  Cavalry, 
In  the  Field  near  Winchester. 
July 

In  compliance  with  orders  from  the  commanding  general 
the  regiment  will  leave  Stevenson's  Station  this  p.  M.  at 
three  o'clock,  en  route  to  New  York  city,  for  final  discharge. 

Transportation  will  be  furnished  for  officers'  horses  to  place 
of  muster  out.  The  regiment  will  march  for  the  depot  at 


.  Cavalry,  ~\ 

Vinchester,  Va.,  >• 
ly  ISth,  1865.      J 


198  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

twelve  M.  Every  officer  and  enlisted  man  will  be  in  camp 
to  march  promptly  at  that  hour.  En  route  home  and  until 
final  discharge,  it  is  earnestly  hoped  the  regiment  will  sus 
tain  its  good  name. 

After  four  years  of  hardship  and  honor  you  return  to 
your  state  to  be  honorably  mustered  out  of  service  and  to 
return  once  more  to  a  peaceful  life  among  your  friends  and 
loved  ones.  In  a  few  days  you  will  be  scattered  and  the 
Fifth  New  York  Cavalry  will  be  no  more.  The  hardships 
you  have  endured ;  the  comforts  of  which  you  have  been 
deprived ;  the  cheerful  and  prompt  manner  in  which  you 
have  always  done  your  duty,  and  the  successes  you  have 
met  with  on  the  battle  field,  have  won  the  admiration  of  every 
general  officer  under  whom  you  have  served.  Surpassed  by 
none,  equaled  by  few,  your  record  as  a  regiment  is  a  glo 
rious  and  an  honorable  one. 

May  your  future  lives  be  as  prosperous  and  as  full  of 
honor  to  yourselves,  as  the  past  four  years  have  been  to  your 
country,  to  your  state  and  to  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry. 
A.  H.  WHITE, 

Col.  Comd'g 

5th  N.  Y.  Cavalry. 

The  regiment  was  ready  to  move  at  the  appointed  hour, 
and  at  three  P.  M.  the  train  that  bore  many  a  happy  heart, 
moved  from  Stevenson's  Station  toward  Harper's  Ferry. 

July  19^7t.  Our  muster  out  papers  all  bear  this  date. 
In  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love  at "  Cooper  Shop,"  the  regi 
ment  was  entertained  with  an  excellent  supper.  Cheerfully 
we  pursued  our  journey  to  the  metropolis,  where  we  tarried 
not  long,  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  20th,  we  were  neatly 
encamped  on  Hart's  Island,  New  York  harbor,  awaiting  our 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  199 

turn  with  the  paymaster.  The  Fifth  Regiment  of  Cavalry, 
Fifth  Infantry  and  Fifth  Artillery,  N.  Y.  Vols.,  met  to 
gether  for  the  first  time  on  Hart's  Island. 

July  25th.  The  first  and  second  battalions  and  Co.  I  of 
the  third  were  paid  this  afternoon  and  evening,  and  many 
of  the  men  took  boat  from  the  island  for  home. 

July  26th.  The  remaining  three  companies  of  the  regi 
ment  were  paid  this  morning,  and  the  Fifth  New  York 
Cavalry  was  no  more,  except  in  story. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Regimental  Items.  —  Tables  :  Officers  at  Time  of  Muster  Out.  — 
Commanding  Officers. — Non-comrnissioned  Staff. — Exhibit  of 
Strength  on  Monthly  Returns.  —  Full  Statistics.  — Former  Oc 
cupations  of  our  Men.  —  Their  Places  of  Birth.  —  Marches  of 
the  Regiment — Counties  Traversed.  —Escort  Duty.  —  Gen 
erals  under  whom  we  Served.  —  Burial  of  Our  Dead.  —  Tables: 
Engagements  and  their  Casualties.  —  Men  Killed  in  Action. — 
Mortally  Wounded. — Discharged  by  Reason  of  Wounds. — List 
of  Retired  Officers. 

In  passing  from  the  diary  of  the  regiment,  we  intro 
duce  the  reader  to  what  may  seem  more  dry  and  uninterest 
ing,  yet  not  less  important,  to  a  vast  array  of  statistics.  To 
any  one  but  a  member  or  friend  of  the  regiment  it  may 
seem  to  have  been  unnecessary  to  appropriate  so  much  space  to 
these  numbers.  Our  apology  —  if  indeed  any  be  needed  — 
shall  be  brief.  We  look  upon  such  tables  as  invaluable  to 
correct  and  full  history.  Figures  often  reveal  more  than 
narration.  Great  pains  have  been  taken  (o  present  them  in 
an  attractive  form,  and  one  convenient  for  reference,  and 
no  time  has  been  spared  in  making  them  reliable.  Not  less 
than  three  months  of  hard  labor  have  been  consumed  in  the 
compilation  of  these  tables,  one  of  them  alone — "engage 
ments  and  their  casualties"  —  having  occupied  nearly  one- 
third  of  that  time. 

Were  the  historian  supplied  with  such  data  from  each 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  201 

regiment,  which  has  participated  in  our  terrible  struggle, 
an  incalculably  interesting  and  valuable  history  of  this 
rebellion  might  be  compiled  at  no  distant  day.  But  it  is  to 
be  feared  that  in  many  instances  not  even  the  number 
much  less  the  names,  of  our  noble  defenders,  who  have 
fallen  in  the  conflict,  will  ever  be  known  to  posterity. 
While  it  is  a  noble  thing  to  die  for  one's  country,  it  is  an 
ignoble  thing  for  survivors  not  to  chronicle  the  deeds  and 
names  of  their  less  fortunate  companions.  We  have  en 
deavored  to  do  justice  to  the  memory  of  our  comrades  in 
these  pages,  and  if,  in  any  way,  we  have  failed  to  do  it  well, 
let  it  not  be  attributed  to  a  want  of  devotion  to  them  or  to 
the  facts  of  history. 

With  thoughts   like  these  we  are  doubtless  prepared  to 
enter  upon  the  perusal  of  the  following  statistics. 


17 


202 


HISTORIC   RECORDS. 


Officers  of  the  Regiment  at  Time  of  Muster-out,  July  19,  '65. 


NAMES. 

BANK. 

RANK  AT 
TIME  OF 
ENTRY. 

TIME  on1  ENTRY. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 
Amos  H    White  l 

Colonel 

1  st  Lieut 

Sept     26   1801 

Theodore  A     Boice  2 

Lieut   Col    .. 

Private 

June    15   l^til 

Elmer  J    Barker  ' 

Major  

Sept     19   1801 

Henry  A     D    Merritt,4  

, 

Oct.       9   ist.i 

Liberty  C     Abbott   

M 

t 

Aug.    2G,  1801. 

Fred    M     Sawyer  6  

Adjutant,  

« 

Aug.    22,  1801. 

Dewitt  H.    Dickinson,  
Joseph  A.   Phillips,  

Regt.  Q.  M.,.. 
Regt.  Comm., 

IstLieut. 

Oct.     18,  1802. 
May      3,  1802. 

Orlando   W.  Armstrong,6... 
Isaac  N.  Mead,  

Surgeon,  
Ass.  Surgeon, 

As.Surg. 
Hosp.St, 

Mar.    18,  1803. 
Dec.     20,  1862. 

llichard  H.  Goodell,  

As.Surg. 

May      9,  1804. 

Louis  N.  Boudrye,7  
Co.  A. 
Frazer   A    Boutelle  "  

Chaplain,  
Captain,  

Chaplain 
Private, 

Jan.    31,  1803. 
June      1,  1861 

Michael    Hayes,'  

1st  Lieut.,  

H 

Aug.    15,  1861. 

William  T.  Boyd,™  
Co.  B. 
Jabez   Chambers  ^  

2d  Lieut.,  
Captain  ,  

if 

Private, 

Dec.    19,  1803. 
Aug.    21,  1861. 

Samuel  McBride  12 

1st  Lieut 

Hosp  St 

Sept    23    1861 

Edward  Price 

2d  Lieut 

Private 

Aug     12   1861 

Co.  C. 
Benj.    M.  Whittemore,13  
William    Leahcv.14.... 

Captain,  
1st  Lieut.... 

Private,  . 

M 

Sept.  10,  1861. 
Auz.    11.  1861. 

1.  Captured  May  23,  '62,  Front  Royal.    Wounded  in  foot  June  30,  '63,  Han 
over,  Pa.     Shot  through  body  June  1,  '64,  Ashland,  and  captured. 

2.  Captured  July  18,  '62,   Barneit's  Ford.     Again  captured  Oct.  25,  '63,  by 
Mosby,  and  received  five  wounds  while  escaping  Irom  captor. 

3.  Severely  injured  by  falling  of  horse,  in  charge,  Feb.  9,  '63,  New  Balti 
more.    Received  two  grape  shot  wounds  May  30,  '63,  Greenwich. 

4.  Received    three     sabre  cuts    March    23.    '63,    Chautilly,   and  captured. 
Captured  again  March  2,  '64,  near  Richmond  with  Col.  Dahlgren.     Escaped 
from  prison,  Columbia,  S.  C.,  Nov.  28,  '64,  Aid  was  30  days  in  reaching  our 
lines. 

5.  Captured  July  18,  '62,  Orange   C.  H.    Wounded  in  right  hand  slightly, 
Oct.  19,  r63,  Buckland  Mills. 

6.  Remained  voluntarily  with  Major  White,  who  was  supposed  to  be  mor 
tally  wounded,  June  1,  '64,  Ashland,  and  captured. 

7.  Captured  July  5,  '63.  Monterey  Pass,  Pa.     Released  Oct.  7,  '68. 

8.  Severely  injured  by  falling  of  horse,  in  charge.  June  30,  '63,  Hanover,  Pa. 

9.  Wounded  slightly  and  captured  June  30,  '63,  Hanover,  Pa. 

10.  Captured  June  29,  '64,  Reams  Station.      Escaped  from  prison,  Coluin'bia, 
8.  C.,  Nov.  4,  '64,  and  was  21  days  in  reaching  our  lines. 

11.  Captured  July  6,  '63.  Hagerftown,  Md. 

12.  Severely  wounded  May  3,  '63,  Warrenton  Junction. 

13.  Captured  June  29,  '64,  Reams  Station.      Escaped  from  prison,  Columbia, 
8.  C.,  Nov.  4th,  '64,  and  was  21  days  in  reaching  our  lines. 

14.  Wounded  in  arm  March  23,  '63,  Chautilly. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


203 


Officers  of  the  Regiment  at  Time  of  Muster-out,  July  19,'  65. 


NAMES. 

RANK. 

RANK  AT 

TIME  OP 
ENTRY. 

TIME  OP  ENTRY. 

Patrick   Tiffany      

2d  Lieut...... 

1st  Lieut.,  
2d  Lieut.,  

Captain  ... 

Private,. 

Private,  . 

« 

Private,. 

2d  Lieut. 
Private,. 

« 

Private,. 
« 

(t 
Private,. 

2d  Lieut. 
Private,. 
« 

2d  Lieut. 
Private,. 

" 

2d  Lieut. 

Aug.      8,   1861. 

Sept.  26,   1861. 
Sept.  23,  1861. 

Aug.  26,  1861. 
Aug.   31,   1861. 
Aug.  26,  1861. 

Aug.  30,  1861. 
Sept,   12,  1861. 
Oct.      6,  1862. 

Aug.    22,  1861. 
Sept.     1,  1861. 
Sept,     9,  1861. 

Oct.      1,  1861 
Oct.      1,  1861. 
Oct.      1,  1861. 

Sept.  26,  1862. 
Sept.    4,   1861. 
April    8,  1863. 

Oct.    16,  1861. 
Sept.  15,  1861. 
Oct.      9,   1861. 

Sent.    3.  1861. 

Co.  D. 
Hansom  A.  Perkins,  
Jeremiah  J.  Callanau,1  
Co.  E. 
Foster  Dickinson  2  

Matthew  Strait,3  

1st  Lieut.,  
2d  Lieut.,  

Captain,  
1st  Lieut.,  
2d  Lieut.,  

Captain 

Addison  S.  Thompson,4  
Co.  F. 
William   D.  Lucas,5  
Merritt  N   Chafey,  

John  K.  Jeffrey,6  

Co.  G. 
John  H.  Wright  7 

William  H   Knight  8     . 

1st  Lieut.,  
2d  Lieut.,  

Captain,  

Abijah  Spafford  

Co.   II. 
Eugene  B    Hayward,9  
Lucins  F.   Renne  ^ 

1st  Lieut,,  
2d  Lieut.,  

Captain,  

Clark  M    Pease  

Co.   I. 
Edmund  Blunt,  Jr.,11  
Christopher  Heron 

1st  Lieut  ,  ... 
2d  Lieut.,  

Captain,  
1st  Lieut.,  ... 
2d  Lieut.,  

Captain.  . 

William  H.  Conklin,.... 

Co.  K. 

Laurence  L.  O'Connor,  
Thomas  O'Keefe 

Nathaniel  M.  Talmage,  
Co.  L. 
George  C.  Morton,... 

1.  Sabre  cut  in  right  hand  June  30,  '63,  Hanover,  Pa 

2.  Wounded  in  left  leg  June  1,  '64,  Ashland. 

3.  Sabre    cut  on   wrist  Oct.    11,  '63.   Brandy  Station.     Gun   shot  in   thigh 
March  1,  '64,  near  Richmond.    Wounded  slightly  in    hand  Sept.   19, '64,  Win 
chester. 

4.  Captured  March  23,  '63,  Chantilly.    Escaped  from  guards  the  24th.    Re 
captured  aud  paroled  the  25th. 

5.  Captured  July  7,  '63,  near  TVilliamsport,  Md.    Released  March,  1865. 

6.  Wounded  slightly  Oct.  H,  '63,  Brandy  Station. 

7.  Captured  June  30,  '63,  Hanover,  Pa. 

8.  Captured  Sept.  3,  '64.  White  Post.      Escaped  from  prison,   Columbia, 
b.  C.,  Dec.  28,  '64,  and  was  18  days  in  reaching  our  lines. 

9.  Wounded  in  left  arm  Aug.  2.  '62.  Orange  C.  #.,  and  bv  a   shell  slightly 
in  the  thigh  March  1,  '64,  near  Richmond. 

10.  Slightly  woundc-d  by  guerrillas  in  left  shoulder  Mav  15  '62  Tom's  Brook 

11.  Wounded  iu  left  ear  Aug.  35,  '64,  Kearneysville  Station. 


204  HISTORIC    RECORDS. 

Officers  of  the  Regiment  at  Time  of  Muster-out,  July  19,  '65. 


NAMES. 

RANK. 

RANK  AT 
TIME  OF 
ENTRY. 

TIME  OF  ENTRV. 

William  H.   Whitcomb,1  
Peter  McMullen  2 

1st  Lieut.,  
'M  Lieut 

Private,. 
ii 

Oct.       1,    1801. 
Nov     18    1861 

Co.  M. 
Wilbur  F.   Oakley,3  

Captain 

Private 

Oct     23    18G1 

William  G.  Peckham,*  
Justus  Travis,  

1st  Lieut.,  
2d  Lieut.,  

Aug.  31,  1861. 
Sept.  20,   1861. 

1.  Captured  May  6,  '62,  Harrisonburg.  Escaped  by  stratagem.  Again  captured 
July  6,  '63,  Hagerstown,  Md.    Wouuded  in  neck  slightly,  May  5,  '64,  Parker's 
Store. 

2.  Slightly  wounded  in  left  hand,  May  5,  '64,  Parker's  Store. 

3.  Wouuded  in  head,  Oct.  10,  '03,  Janies  City;  aimin  in  head  Aug.  25,  '64, 
Kearneyeville  Station. 

4.  Wounded  in  breast,  June  1,  '64,  Ashland. 

Officers  who  have   Commanded  the  Regiment. 


NAMES 

Rank  at 
Time  of 
Relief 
from 

Command 

Rank  at 
Time  of 
Taking 
Command 

Date  of  Taking 
Command. 

Date  of  Relief 
from  Command. 

OtbnielDeForest, 
Robert  Joh  nst  one 
John  Hammond, 
William  P.  Bacon 
Abram  H.  Krom, 
Elmer  J.  Barker, 
Theo.  A.  Boice, 
Amos  H.  White, 

Colonel,. 

Lt.  Col., 
Colonel, 
Lt-   Col., 
Major,  ... 
Captain, 
Lt.    Col.. 
Colonel,. 

Colonel,. 
Lt.   Col., 
Major,... 
Lt.  Col., 
Major,... 
Captain  , 
Major,... 
Colonel,. 

Oct.       1,  1801. 
Sept.  10,  1861. 
June     1,  1863. 
Aug.  30,  1864. 
Sept.  12,  1864. 
Oct.    19,  1864. 
Oct.    21,  1864. 
Dec.   19,  1864. 

Sept.  10,  1862. 
June    1,  1863. 
Aug.  30,  1864. 
Sept.  12,  1864. 
Oct.    19,  1864. 
Oct.    21,  1864. 
Dec.   19,  1864. 
July  26,  1865. 

Non-  Commissioned  Staff >  July  19,  1865. 


NAMES. 

RANK. 

RANK  AT 
TIME  OF 
ENTRY  IN 
REGIMENT. 

TIME  OF  ENTRY. 

Co.  PRO 
MOTED 

FROM. 

Dennis  O'Flaherty,1 
William  C.  Page,2... 
Michael   Dunigan,3.. 
Charles  B.   Thomas, 
Stephen  D.  Green,4.. 
David  F.  Wolcott,... 
Dennis  O'Brien,  

Sergt.  Maj., 
Hosp.  St.,.. 
Q.M.  Sergt., 
Com'y  Sergt 
ChietBuglr. 
Saddler  Sgt. 
Vetr'ySrgn. 

Private,... 

July  2,  IbOl  
Jan.  16,  1863  
Sept.  15,  1861,.. 
Sept.  21<  1861,... 
Aug.  22,  1861,... 
March  10,  1862,. 
Aug.  22,  1862,... 

A. 
B. 
D. 
F. 
G. 
E. 
L. 

1.  Captured  Hanover,  Pa.,  June  30,  '63.  Again  Oct.  29,  63,  Thoroughfare  Gap. 
—  2.  Captured  Oct.  11.  '63,  Brandy  Station.— 3.  Captured  Oct,  10,  '63,  Russell  8 
Ford.—  4.  For  a  long  time  Rrigade,  and  Division  Bugler. 


FIFTII  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


205 


The  following  will  exhibit  the  Non- Commissioned  Staff  in  the 
order  in  which  they  were  appointed  from  the  organization 
of  the  regiment  : — 

SERGEANTS  MAJOR, — John  Greenback,  Reg't,  from  Co. 
K  ;  Jaines  Seddinger,  1st  Battalion,  B  ;  George  T.  Smith,  1st 
Batt,  B;  Richard  C.  Stananought,  2d  Batt.,  C;  Warner 
Miller,  3d  .Batt,  I;  Alexander  Gall,  3d  Batt.,  I;  Richard  C. 
Stanauought,  Reg't;  Alexander  Gall,  Reg't;  Fred  M.  Saw 
yer,  Reg't,  C ;  Lewis  J.  Gorham,  Reg't,  H. 

HOSPITAL  STEWARDS, — Samuel  McBride,  Joseph  Par- 
melee,  Richard  Marion,  Isaac  N.  Mead. 

QUARTER  MASTER  SERGEANTS, Simpson,  Reg' t;W. 

F.  Haviland,  1st  Batt. ;  Fred  Paul,  2d  Batt. ;  Alfred  K. 
Wilson,  3d  Batt,;  Dewitt  H.  Dickinson,  Reg't;  David  H. 
Scofield,  Reg't,  K. 

COMMISSARY  SERGEANTS, — Miles  L.  Blanchard,  1st 
Batt. ;  William  Banta,  2d  Batt, ;  Daniel  Hitchcock,  3d  Batt. ; 
Merritt  N.  Chafey,  Reg't,  F. 

CHIEF  BUGLERS, — Luke  S.  Williams,  F  ;  Conrad  Bohrer, 
I ;  Julius  C.  Lauib,  I ;  Robert  Heisser,  D ;  Louis  Erdman,  M. 

SADDLER  SERGEANTS, — John  J.  Bush,  IstBatt. ;  William 
B.  Vincent,  2d  Batt.,  G  ;  Asahel  S.  Lohman,  3d  Batt.,  M. 

VETERINARY  SURGEON, — John  Young,  B. 

VETERINARY  SERGEANTS, — James  Jelly,  1st  Batt.,  B.  ; 
A.  D.  Styles,  2d  Batt.,  F.;  William  G.  Edwards,  3d  Batt.,  L 

Whole  number  on  Muster  Rolls,   as  shown  by  monthly  returns  of  the 
folio  icing  dates: 


Dates. 

Cumin. 
Officers. 

Enlisted 
Men. 

Dates. 

Comm. 
Officers. 

I  Enlisted 
Men. 

October,  1861,... 
January,  1862,... 
April,  1862,  
July,  1862  

50 
50 
47 
35 

1064 
932 
911 
607 

October,  1863,... 
January,  1864,... 
April,  1864,  
July,  1864,..., 

38 
32 
36 
32 

522 
595 
979 
814 

October,  1862,... 
January,  1863,... 
April,  1863,  
July,  1803,... 

39 
36 
44 
37 

658 
623 
620 
534 

(October,  1864,... 
January,  1865,... 
April,  1865,  
Julv.  19.  1865.... 

25 

38 
46 
47 

780 
778 
1007 
954 

206 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


Statistical  Record  of  the  Regiment. 


Original  number  of  men, 1064, 

Recruits  added, 1074, 

Original  number  of  officers,  50, 
Whole  number  of  officers, ...  124, 
Original  officers  remaining,  4, 

Officers  from  the  Ranks, 36, 

"        killed  and  mortally 

wounded, 5, 

"        wounded, 22, 

"        captured,  19, 

"        died  of  Disc  ise,....        4, 
"        dismissed  by  Court 

Martial,  10, 

"         discharged  by  order 

War  Department,.       5, 

"        resigned 37, 

"        discharged    at    ex 
piration  of  term,..     13, 
Enlisted    men    killed     and 

mortally  wounded, 75, 

Enlisted  men  wounded, 23G, 

"  "    captured 517, 

"  "    killed        acci 

dentally,....     18, 
"  "    died  in    Rebel 

Prisons, 114, 

"           "    died     of    Dis 
ease 90, 


Enlisted  men  discharged  by 
reason        of 

wounds, 25, 

"  "    discharged  for 

Physical 

Disability, ..  295. 
"  *'    discharged  at 

expiration 

ofterm, 302, 

"  "  discharged  by 
order  of 
President,...  2, 
"  "  transferred  to 
other  Com 
mands,  103, 

"  "    deserted, 325, 

"  "    reenlisted     in 

1864, 212, 

Number  of  Battles  fought, ..     52, 
"  Skirmishes  "    ..  119, 
"          "  Wounds   receiv 
ed  in  action,.  320, 
Men    lost    in    action     and 

never  heard  from, 18, 

Men  remaining.July  19,  '65,  694, 
Original  Veterans   remain 
ing 167, 

Original  horses  remaining,..       7. 


Former  Occupations  of  its  Members. 

That  the  regiment  might  have  constituted  a  very  respect 
able  colony  in  itself,  fully  able  to  go  and  possess  the  land 
and  to  establish  therein  the  various  trades  and  occupations 
necessary  to  progress  in  all  the  departments  of  human  thought 
and  activity,  may  be  inferred  from  the  following  avocations 
which  it  represented,  with  the  comparative  number  of  men 
belonging  to  each.  Farmers  578,  laborers  226,  clerks  65, 
boatmen  54,  blacksmiths  50,  carpenters  38,  sailors  38,  shoe 
makers  29,  teamsters  28,  mechanics  25,  painters  16,  soldiers 
16,  machinists  14,  tailors  14,  butchers  13,  printers  12, 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK   CAVALRY  207 

coopers  11,  masons  9,  molders  9,  millers  9,  bakers  9,  stu 
dents  8,  lumbermen  7,  tinsmiths  6,  harness  makers  6,  stage 
drivers  6,  showmen  5,  hatters  5,  merchants  5,  engineers  5, 
hostlers  5,  barbers  5,  artists  5,  stone  cutters  5,  wagon 
makers  5.  ministers  4,  lawyers  4,  spinners  4,  bartenders  4. 
wheelwrights  4,  mariners  4,  book  keepers  4,  carmen  4, 
cigar  makers  4,  tobacconists  3,  ship  carpenters  3,  sleigh- 
makers  3,  sawyers  3,  peddlers  3, seamen  3,  curriers  3,  coach 
men  3,  carriage  makers  3,  farriers  3,  wagoners  3,  saddlers 
3,  wool  carders  3,  bricklayers  2,  wire-workers  2,  bloomers  2, 
waiters  2,  sawmakers  2,  sailmakers  2,  jewelers  2,  upholster 
ers  2,  expressmen  2.  grocers  2,  shoebinders  2,  spinners  2, 
cabinetmakers  2,  musicians  2,  brushmakers  2,  joiners  2, 
teachers  2,  miners  2,  veterinary  surgeons  2,  firemen  1,  en 
gravers  1,  fishermen  1,  paperinakers  1,  wood  choppers  1, 
roofers  1,  file  cutters  1,  telegraph  operators  1,  apothecaries  1, 
clothiers  1,  mill  hands  1,  salesmen  1,  burnishers  1,  tanners 
1,  boiler  makers  1,  grooms  1,  brewers  1,  lithographers  1, 
gardeners  1,  porters  1,  morocco  dressers  1,  packers  J.,  jailors 
1,  locksmiths  1,  grainers  1,  dressers  1,  confectioners  1,  cooks 
1,  druggists  1,  doctors  1,  travellers  1,  coppersmiths  1, 
colliers  1,  iron-masters  1,  pailmakers  1,  millwrights  1,  book 
binders  1,  drovers  1,  cobblers  1,  watchmakers  1,  cotton 
makers  1,  caulkers  1,  manufacturers  1,  hewers  1,  curry 
comb  makers  1,  minstrels  1,  hotel  keepers  1,  blockmakers  1, 
gilders  1,  axemakers  1,  making  in  all  126  different  occupa 
tions. 

States  and  Countries  represented, 

It  is  not  strange  that  so  many  men,  representing  so  many 
and  varied  walks  of  life,  should  have  sprung  from  many 
different  states  and  countries  j  nor  is  it  a  matter  of  minor 


208  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

importance  to  ascertain  what  regions  have  contributed 
thought  and  muscle  for  the  great  work  of  crushing  this 
gigantic  rebellion.  The  men  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry- 
had  their  birth  in  the  following  places : 

New  York  797,  Pennsylvania  91,  New  Jersey  39,  Massa 
chusetts  32,  Vermont  31,  Connecticut  18,  Ohio  8,  Mary 
land  4,  Michigan  4,  Maine  3,  New  Hampshire  3,  Illinois  2, 
South  Carolina  2,  North  Carolina  1,  Mississippi  1,  Delaware 
1,  District  Columbia  1,  Rocky  Mountains  1,  Ireland  221, 
Germany  75,  Canada  65,  England  62,  Scotland  12,  Prussia 
12,  France  8,  Switzerland  3,  Poland  2.  Wales  2,  Spain  2, 
Sweden  2,  Australia  1,  Italy  1,  Belgium  1,  Denmark  1, 
Saxon}?  1,  Nova  Scotia  1,  New  Brunswick  1. 

The  tallest  man  ever  in  the  regiment  was  Jacob  H.  Ten 
Eyck,  Co.  M,  6  feet  4  inches;  the  shortest,  John  Catlin, 
Co.  A,  4  feet  5  inches. 

Journeyings  of  the  Regiment. 

If  you  take  a  map  of  the  United  States  or  a  good  War 
map,  and  a  pencil,  I  will  enable  you  to  trace  the  contour  of 
the  country  in  which  the  regiment  has  fought  its  battles 
and  made  its  marches.  Place  your  pencil  on  the  memorable 
field  of  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  move  due  east  to  Hanover, 
thence  southeasterly  to  the  head  of  Chesapeake  bay.  Follow 
the  bay  to  the  mouth  of  James  river,  and  up  the  river  to 
Fort  Powhatan  on  south  side.  From  the  fort,  strike  a 
straight  line  to  Jarretts  Station  on  the  Weldon  and  Peters 
burg  rail  road,  and  bearing  due  west,  pass  through  Christian- 
ville.  thence  a  little  north  of  west  to  Roanoke  Station,  where 
the  Danville  and  Richmond  rail  road  crosses  the  Staunton 
river.  Here  you  may  rest  awhile  for  you  are  more  than 
half  way  round.  Following  the  rail  road  northward  to  Burkes- 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  209 

ville,  we  will  go  west  to  Apporaattox  Court  House ;  strike  a 
straight  line  to  Lexington  on  the  James,  west  of  the  Blue 
ridge  and  thence  north  to  Moorefield.  Now  draw  your  line 
northeastly  through  Martinsburg ;  continue  it  through 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  and  back  again  to  Gettysburg.  The  ter 
ritory  inclosed  by  this  line  has  been  traversed  by  the  regi 
ment,  and  some  portions  of  it  many  times. 

I  insert  the  counties  through  which  the  regiment  has 
marched,  beginning  with  those  we  have  traversed  most  fre 
quently  and  with  which  we  are  best  acquainted  : — 

Fairfax,  Va.,  Culpepper,  Frederick,  (in  these  the  regi 
ment  spent  three  successive  winters,)  Clarke,  Jefferson, 
Loudon,  Prince  William,  Fauquier.  Madison,  Orange,  Spott- 
sylvania,  Shenandoah,  Rockinghaui,  Augusta,  Warren,  Page, 
Stafford,  Rappahannock,  Berkeley,  Hampshire.  Hardy,  Ca 
roline,  Hanover,  King  William,  New  Kent,  Henrico,  Charles 
City,  Louisa,  Rockbridge,  James  City,  York,  Gloucester, 
Prince  George,  Diuwiddie,  Nottoway,  Prince  Edward,  Ap- 
pomattox,  Charlotte,  Mecklenburg,  LunenbuTg,  Brunswick, 
Sussex,  and  King  George; — Montgomery,  Md.,  Frederick, 
Carroll,  and  Washington; — York,  Pa.,  and  Adams. 

Escort  Duty  for  Generals. 

The  regiment  was  appointed  escort  for  Gen.  Pope,  August 
27,  '62,  and  served  till  Sept.  4,  '62.  It  was  appointed 
escort  for  Gen.  Sheridan,  Nov.  24,  '64,  and  occupied  the 
position  till  April,  '65. 

Generals  under  ichom  the  Regiment  has  served. 
Gen.  N.  P.  Banks,  commanding  Army  of  the  Shenandoah. 
Gen.  John  Pope,  commanding  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Gen.  Heintzelman,  commanding  Defenses  of  Washington 


210  HISTORIC   RECORDS. 

Gens.  Hooker  and  Meade,  commanding  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan,  commanding  Army  of  the  She- 
riandoah. 

Gens.  Stoneman,  Pleasanton  and  Torbert,  commanding 
Cavalry  Corps. 

Gen.  John  P.  Hatch,  commanding  Cavalry  with  Gen. 
Banks. 

Gen.  John  Buford,  commanding  Cavalry  with  Gen.  Pope. 

Gen.  Stahel,  commanding  Cavalry  Division  under  Gen. 
Heintzelman. 

Gens.  Kilpatrick,  John  H.  "Wilson,  George  A.  Custer 
commanding  3d  Division,  Cavalry  Corps. 

Gens.  Elon  J.  Farnsworth  (killed  July  3,  '63,  Gettys 
burg),  Henry  E.  Davies,  Jr.,  J.  B.  Mclntosh  (wounded  in 
left  leg,  amputated,  Sept.  19,  '64,  Winchester),  commanding 
1st  Brigade,  3d  Division,  Cavalry  Corps. 

The  following  Colonels,  acting  Brigadier  Generals,  have 
also  commanded  us,  Wyndham,  De  Forest,  John  Hammond, 
and  C.  M.  Pennington. 

Burial  of  our  Dead. 

By  reference  to  the  table  of  "  Men  killed  in  Action,"  it 
will  be  seen  that  many  of  our  brave  comrades  were  left  un- 
buried  on  the  bloody  fields  were  they  fell,  many  of  whose 
bones  have  doubtless  bleached  in  the  sun  and  rain,  through 
the  wilderness  and  along  the  river  courses  of  Virginia.  But 
fortunately  we  were  permitted  to  perform  the  solemn  rites 
of  burial  and  pay  the  last  honors  to  some  of  them,  the 
memory  of  whose  graves  will  frequently  call  forth  the  sym 
pathetic  tear,  and  stimulate  us  to  the  performance  of  heroic 
deeds.  To  thee,  0  laud  of  our  birth  !  and  to  thee,  proud 


]SEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  211 

Flag  of  the  free,   we  feel  unwonted   love,  since  you  have 
both  been  bathed  with  the  pure  blood  of  our  noble  dead ! 

We  have  endeavored  to  indicate  the  resting  places  of  our 
companions  by  rude  head-boards  with  their  names  engraved 
or  cut  thereon,  though  often  nothing  has  been  left  to  iden 
tify  the  precious  remains,  except  the  tree  that  waved  in 
mournful  requiem  over  them,  or  the  rock  that  stood  as  their 
eternal  safeguard.  Around  those  quick-made  graves  we 
were  often  compelled  hastily  to  assemble,  and  from  them, 
perhaps,  more  hastily  to  retire,  with  no  funeral  note  or  word, 
but  not  without  a  purpose.  Occasionally  the  military  salute 
has  been  fired,  the  brief  eulogium  and  prayer  been  pronunc- 
ed,1  and  we  have  left  our  comrades  to  slumber,  but  not  to  be 
forgotten.  In  some  instances  we  have  learned,  with  satis 
faction,  that  the  enemy  had  given  our  dead  a  decent  inter 
ment,  and  we  are  conscious  of  having  often  returned  the 
favor.  Whenever  it  has  been  possible  the  remains  of  our 
comrades  have  been  embalmed  and  sent  home  to  their 
friends,  to  niolder  by  the  side  of  kindred  dust. 


1  See  Burial  of  Sergt.  Sortore,  p.  133. 


212  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Engagements  and  their  Casualties. 


PLACE  OP  ENGAGEMENT. 

No. 

DATE. 

NATURE. 

Comm. 
Officers. 

Enliet 
!    Men 

Ai 
lit 

ft 

if 

§; 

Port  Republic,   . 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
1C 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
•r, 

26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
.33 
34 
35 

;;c, 

37 
38 
39 
40  ! 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 

49 
50 
51 
52 
53 

May  2,  '62,.. 
May  2,  '62,.. 
May  4,  '62,  .  . 
May  6,  '62,.. 
Mav  6,  '62,.. 
May  8,  '62,.. 
Mav  14,  '62,.. 
May  21,  '62,.. 
May  23,  '62,  .  . 
May  24,  :62,.. 
Mav  24,  '69,.. 
May  25,  '62,.. 
May  29,  '62,  .  . 
May  31,  '62,  .  . 
May  31,  '62,.. 
July  6,  '62,.. 
July  12,  '62,  .  . 
July  17,  '62,.. 
July  17,  '62,.. 
JulVis,  '62,.. 
July  18,  '62,.. 
Aug.  2,  '62,.. 
Aug.  9,  '62,.. 
Aug.  10,  '62,.. 
Aug  17,  '62,.. 
Aug.  20,  '62,.. 
Aug.  24,  '62,.. 
Aug.  28,  '62,.. 
Aug.  29,  '62,  .  . 
Aug.  30,  '62,.. 
Sept..  1,  '62,.. 
Srp|.19,  '62,.. 
Sept.22,  '62,.. 
Oct.  16,  '62,.. 
Oct.  17,  '62,.. 
Oct.  18,  '62,  .  . 
Oct.  18,  '62,  .  . 
Nov.  5,  '62,.. 
Nov.  5,  '62,.. 
Nov.  8,  '62,.. 
Nov.  11,  '62,.. 
Nov.  12,  '62,.. 
Nov.  16,  '62,  .  . 
Nov.  •».),  '62,.. 
Nov.  30,  '62,  •  • 
Nov.  30,  '62,  .  . 
Dec.  18,  '62,  .  . 
Dec.  31,  '62,  .  . 

Jan.  5,  63,... 
Jan.  6,  '(53,  .  . 
Jan.  26,  '63,  .  . 
Feb.  9,  '63,  .  . 
Feb.  10.  '63.  .  . 

Skirmish,..' 

Battle,  
Skirmish,.. 
Battle,  

Skirmish,.. 

Battle, 
Skirmish,.'. 
Battle,  ... 

i 

• 

Conrad's  Store,  Luray  Valley 
Buckingham  Furnace,       " 
Conrad's  Store,  ... 

.  i 
i  ., 

i 

•j 

1  1 

2  15 
1  .. 

1  4 

Harrisonburir 

Columbia  Bridge,  Luray  V'y 
Woodstock,  
Woodstock,.. 

Front.  Royal 

Middletown,  

Newtown  Cross  Roads,  
Winchester,  

Harper'  8  Ferry,   

Cluirlrstown,  .  . 

'i 

i 

2  9 
1 

Martinsburg,. 

Sperryville 

Cul  pepper  C.  H.,. 
Ornn-'e  0.  II., 

Liberty  Mills 

Rnpidan  Station  
Barnett's  Ford.  Rapidan,  
Orange  C.  II.,. 

Cedar  Mountain,  

Cedar  Mountain,  

Louisa  C.  H.,  

Kelly's  Ford,  Rappahannock. 
Waterloo  Bridge,  
Centreville,  

< 

Skirmish,'.'. 
Battle,  .... 

Skirmish,.. 

..  ] 
1  .. 

'.'.  '2 
1    .. 

Groveton,  .  

Bull  Run,  

Chantilly,  

Antietain,  .  .   . 

Aehby's  Gap,  

Uppcrvifie,  

Thoroughfare  Gap,  
Hay  Market,  
New  Baltimore,  

i 

Cedar  Hill,. 

Hopewell  Gap  

Thoroughfare  Gap,  

Middleburg,  

Upperville, 

Aldie,. 

Snicker's  Gap,.  . 

Berry  ville,.. 

Aldie  

Cub  Run,  

Frying  Pan,  

11  ; 

: 

!!  'i 

Cub  Run,     

Middleburg 

New  Baltimore,  

11  ' 

Warrentou,  .  . 

It 

FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 

Engagements  and  their  Casualties,  continued. 


213 


PLACE  OP  ENGAGEMENT. 

No. 

DATB. 

NATURE. 

(.'oin  in. 
Officers. 

Enlist'd 
Men. 

"Killed. 

Wounded. 

i 
1 

!fd  Ui 
•dlfl 
£E   H   5 

5=| 

Spotted  Tavern 

54 
55 
56 

z 

59 
60 
61 
62 
63 
64 
65 
66 
67 
68 
69 
70 
71 
72 
73 
74 
75 
76 
77 
TS 
7!) 

BO 

-i 
s2 

n 

84 
85 
ST. 
87 
88 

89 
90 
91 
92 
93 
94 
95 
96 
97 
98 
99 
100 
101 
101 
103 
104 
105 
106 

Feb.      10,  '63, 
March    4,  '(53, 
March  23,  163, 
April    28,  '63, 
May        8,  '63, 
May      30,  '63, 
June     10,  '6-3. 
June     30,  '63. 
July       2,  '63, 
July       3,  '63, 
July       4,  '63, 
July       5,  Y>3. 
July       6,  '63, 
July        8,  '63, 
July      11,  '63, 
July     26.  '63, 
Sept.      4.  '63, 
Sept.    13.  '63, 
Sept.    14,  '63. 
Sept.     22.  Yd. 
Sept.    25,  '63, 
Oct.        8,  '63, 
Oct.      10,  '63, 
Oct.      10,  '63, 
Oct.      11,  '63, 
Oct.      11,  '63, 
Oct.      16,  '63, 
Oct.      17,  '63, 
Oct.      18,  '63, 
Oct.      18,  '63, 
Oct.      19,  '63, 
Nov.       8,  '63, 
Nov.     18,  '63, 
Nov.     26,  '63, 
Nov.     27,  '63, 

Jan.     19,  '64, 
Jan.     22,  '64. 
Feb.       6,  '64, 
March    1,  '64, 
March    2,  '64, 
March    2,  '64 
March    2,  '64, 
March    4,  '64, 
March  11,  '64, 
May        5-  '61. 
May       6,  'G4, 
Mav        7,  '64, 
May      15,  '64, 
May      16,  '64, 
May      1-.  Y,i. 
May      is.  'ill, 
May      21.  '64, 
May      21,  '04, 

Skirmish,.. 

i 
i 

4 

i 
6 

y.t 

2 

33 
t 

t 

18 
1 
3 
3 

54 

14 

8 
1 

% 

1 

10 

I 

» 
6 

18 

1 

1 
1 

Aldie 

Chautillv       .          .            .   .. 

" 

•• 

i 

i 

White  I'lains 

Warrenton  Junction,  
Green  \vich  ...         .     . 

Battle, 

1 

3 

1 

1 

Middlelnm'  

Hanover.  Pa  

1  Inn  UT-=  town.  Pa., 

Gettv~l>ur"    Pa 

Skirmish,'.'. 
Battle,  .... 

1 

'i 

8 

:2 

*i 

9 

"i 

2 
i 

7 

0 
1 
8 

4 

1 

5 

i 

2 

'i 

4 

'i 
1 
a 

i 
i 

a 

Monterey  Pass,  Pa.,  

Smithbur",  Md  , 

II.-iuM'ivtown,  Md.,  
Boonsboro',  Md.,  

Skirmish,.. 

Battle,  
Skirmish,'.'. 

u 

-• 

H.agorstmvn    Md  ,, 

Ashbv's  Gap,  

Port  Con  way,  

Culpepper  C.  H.,  

Somerville  Ford,  Robertson,. 
Brookiu's  Ford.  Rapidan,.  .  .  . 
Hazel  River  Bridge,  
CeiirhrsviHe  

Russell's  Ford,  Robertson,  .  .  . 
James  City  

Battle 

1 

1 

Sperrvville  Pike,  

Skirmish,.. 
Battle 

Braud'y  Station,  

Groveton,. 

Skirmish,.. 

i 

i 
i 

,; 

i 

i 
i 

Groveton,  

Groveton,  

Gainesville, 

Battle,  .. 
Skirmish,.. 

Battle, 

Skirmish,.. 

Battle,  .  . 
Skirmish,.. 

Battle,  ....' 

Skirmish,'.'. 

Battle.  .  . 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

Buckland  Mills  

Stevensburj*  

Germania  Ford.  Rapidan,  
Raccoon  Ford,  Rapidan,  
Raccoon  Ford, 

Ely's  Ford,  Rapidan.. 

Ellis1  Ford.  Rappahannock.  .  . 
Hampton's  Cross  Roads,  
Defenses  of  Richmond,  
Hanover  Town 

Avletts  

Stephonsville,.  .. 

Field's  Ford,  Rappahaunock. 
Southard's  Cross  Roads,  
Parker's  Store,  
Wilderness  . 

Germania  Ford,  

Massaponax  Church, 
Ny  River,  

Po  River,  .... 

Po  River,  

Mattapony  River, 

Milford  Station,. 

18 


214  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Engagements  and  their  Casualties,  continued. 


PLACE  OF  ENGAGEMENT. 

No. 

DATE. 

NATURE. 

Com 
Otlic 

*\* 

11 
B|| 

n. 
>rs 

— 
I 

H 

z. 

3 

Killed.  |  W 
Wounded.  T  7- 

,-d 
n. 

1 

Mt,  Carniel  Church,  
North  Anna  lliver,  
Little  River,  
Signal  Hill,  

107 
108 
109 
110 
111 
112 

May  23,  '04,  . 
May  24,  '64,  . 
May  20,  '04,  . 
May  31/04,. 
June  1,  '64,. 
June  1,  '64,. 

[Battle,... 
Skirmish,.. 

1 

-> 
•J 

:; 
1 

i 

13 
S 

2 
8 

'•j 

*8 
9 

•l 
17 

1 
•} 

-.' 
•] 
9 
8 
is 
B 
M 

S 
1 

1 
9 

9 

4 
1 

1 
I 

Hanover  C.  H. 

Ashland  Station,  

Battle,  

2    3 

Salem  Church,   . 

113 
114 
115 
110 
117 
118 
119 
120 
121 
122 
123 

121 

183 
120 
127 
128 
129 
180 
131 
132 
133 
134 
135 
130 
137 
138 
139 
140 
141 
142 
IC! 

IS 
It? 

148 
149 
150 
151 
152 
153 
154 
151 
150 
157 
158 
159 

June  3,  '04,  . 
June  10,  '64,  . 
June  11,  '64,. 
June  15,  '64,. 
June  19,  '64,. 
June  23,  '64,  . 
June  28,  '64,  . 
June  25,  '64,. 
June  28,  '04,  . 
June  29,  '04,. 
Tune  29,  '64,  . 
Tune  29.  '04,. 
July  0/04,. 
July  7/04,. 
Tulv  10.  '01.. 
Inly  12/64,. 
Julv  15.  '64.- 
July  18/64,. 
July  24,  '64,  . 
Aug.  17,  '64,. 
Aug.  19,  '64,. 
Aug.  21,  '04,. 
Aug.  22/04,- 
Aug.  23/04,- 
Aug.  25,  '04,  - 
Sept,  2,  '04,  - 
Sept.  4,  '04,  • 
Sept.  7,  ;04,. 
Sept.  13,  04,  . 
Sept,  15,  '04,  • 
Sept.  17,  '04,- 
Sept.  19,  '64,- 
Sept,  20,  '04.  • 
Sept.  21,  '04,  • 
Sept.  21  '64,- 
Sept.  22/64,- 
Sept.  27/04,- 
Sept.  28/OV 
Oct.  2.  6V 
Oct.  6/61,- 
Oct.  7/64,  • 
Oct.  <».  6V 
Oct.  13,  '64,  • 
Oct.  14/64,- 
Oct.  19,  '64,  . 

Nov.  12.  '•'•»,. 

Nov.  22/64,. 

Bethel  Church, 

Skirmish,.. 

Shadv  Grove,  
White  Oak  Swamps,  
White  House  Landing,  

BattlCj  

Skirmish,.. 
Battle, 

• 

: 

Blacks  and  Whites,  
Nottoway  C.  H  
Roanokc  Station, 

Stony  Creek  Station 

Reams  Station,  
Rowanty  Creek,  
Stony  Creek,. 

Skirmish,.'. 

•• 

x' 

Man-land  Heights,  

Battle,  .... 

1 
4 

9 

l 

11 

11 
l 

I 
3 

4 

•1 

1 

1 

-1 

Marvland  Heights,  

Rockville,  
Toll  Gate  
Poolesville,  

Snicker's  Ferry,  

Skirmish,.. 

Battle, 

Skirmish,.. 

Battle  
Skirmish,.. 

Kernstowu,  
Winchester  . 

Opequnn   Creek,  

Summit     Point 

Charlestown,  

Dwffield  Station  
Kearneysville  Station,   
Berrvvillc,  ... 

Battle,  .  . 
Skirmish,.. 

Battle,  ..." 
Skirmish,.. 

1 

;; 

•2 

Berry  ville  
Opequan  Creok 

Opequan  Creek,  

()pc(|iian  Creek,. 

Opeijiian  Creek 

Winchester,  
Crooked  Kun,  
Front  Royal,.   
Asburv  Church,  .•  

Battle,  ..." 

Skirmish,. 
Battle  
Skirmish,.. 

Battle, 

Skirmish,., 

Buttle,  .  .  .' 
Skirmish,.. 

- 

1 
1 

'< 

Milford,  Lnray  Valley,  
Mt  Meridian,. 

WEyutrtjboro', 

Brock's  Gap,  

Forestville,.    .. 

Tom's  Brook,  

Cedar  Creek 

Lebanon  Church,  
Cedar  Creek,  
Cedar  Creek 

Mt.  Jackson,  

FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


215 


Enfjcifjements  and  their    Casualties,  concluded. 


PLACE  or  ENGAGEMENT.       No. 

DATE. 

NATURE. 

Comm. 
Officers. 

ED 
1 

| 

9 

Lfll 
en 

~ 

-^ 

E 
r 

£ 

~ 

£ 

Wound.  '(1. 

Captured. 

Woodstock,  160 

Jan.      10,  '65, 
Jan.      22,  '65 
March    5,  '65, 
March    5,  '65, 
March    6,  '65, 
March    7,  '65, 
March  31,  '65, 
April      1,  '65, 
April      3,  '65, 
April      6,  '65, 
April      8.  '65, 
April      9,  '65, 

Skirmish,. 
Battle,  .  .  . 

Edinbnn*  161 
Mt.  Sidriev,.   .                             162 

i 

1 

i 

^ 

1 

1 

1 

Lacev  Springs,  163 

New  Market,  164 
Hood's  Hill,.                                 165 

Pimviddie  C.  H.,  166 

Five  Forks,  167 
Sweet  House  Creek,  168 
Harper's  Farm                             169 

Appornattox  Station,  170 

Appomattox  C.  H.,  171 
Casualties  with  no  Engag't... 

216 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


H£ 


0,5;       i  u  2  «3  S 


•E  «-       a  'C  T  T  £ 

3    0>   ~      0)13330) 

pa  _q      COBS  cs  a  j 


0  "«   « 

g  s  K 


'a  *S  'i  g  -  '§  ?  'S 
—  —  —"/.        C£  >J  CQ 


c 

lllillll 


B 

<5 

I 


P^P^ 
S^SS 


'I>|3    >3    | 


O       CU 


QQ^^CL,        CM 


•uaarenx 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


217 


„••<»- 

a 


-     P  «  3 

—  J 


e  field 
Fairfax 


:i^g 

o    A 


Buri 
Buri 


•     ; 

:    :    :    :  c    : 
::::*: 

UMlMiMMi 

II 

jf='lij 

&*  C2     •*    ».         *   s-  x,    ^     ® 

» 

Ki  a,  ^  o  e-i 


Kearneysv 
ChanLilly, 


:     : 


L    :     :     :     :     I    :     L    :     :     :     :     :     : 

^O  CO  O  O  ^    ^*     ^  ^O  CC  SO  CO  CO    ^*     O  CO  CO  CO   **     CO  CO   **     "* 

^f  cT  t^"  ci  *&  -  i— "  o"  cT  cc"  cT  co"  ^  10"  co"  c<T  t>T  -   cs"  o"  i   v. 


iKVJKOO^ 


218 


HISTORIC  EECORDS. 


^ 


1 

i 

~   :    :    : 

:    :    : 

"  DISPOSITION  MADE  OF 

£   -'2   i 

0)       . 

S3  ~    ^S 

0 

CQ       vJ 

s  s  - 

o         .    : 

KILLED. 
Where. 

.  Kearneysville  Sta 
.  James  City.  
.  Parker's  Store,  ... 

.  Winches-ter,  
.  Cedar  Mountain,.. 
.  Rood's  Hill,  

:    :    : 

' 

Tf   CO   ~f    -.' 

•*  (N  tO 

§ 

1 

000  2 

§°tf  ^*- 

<!O^  " 

C5  O  l^ 
CO  <  "2. 

•iNYJKOO 

M~ijf  -     "• 

=  a  = 

W 

^  >.     ~     - 

,  J. 

a 

B 

E 

03 

NAMES. 

^11 

oos=ffi 

'           '       >• 

ZK  S 

Jog 

^^tc 

•aaarenN 

C5  O  f-i  <M 
«J<  0  0  0 

CO  •«*  O 
O  O  to 

•  a    o 

:    :  B  B 

--oo 


il    51111 


« 


03  P^  O 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


219 


•        r^     .  _  •  ^J 

d 

I    •    • 

0 

1 
£ 

i     ft   ipzi      £    p 

OF  WOUN 

lijj 

^a  £    : 

d 

£ 

B 

I 

-•^-sri 

^^  MlbS 

—    x  HJ    2    «3 

§53  •&  2  «i  a 

^    0)  —  J5    0    SH 

:  ^jT  02"  ^    :  ^        :      Tj- 

§ 

C'P?P    B"«p    c-    '     *«p 

• 

:       : 

« 
,—  - 

£ 

^S     >    5J    £  ja    "£.—                   CJ 

ComSc^fl             5 

.S 

;          ; 

p 

U^^Qi-^&j/j^)              Q 

^ 

:        r 

s 

1 

1 

:     'o  - 
i          :     S" 

o 

ft* 

.0 

C 
v> 

S 

"    "  s    i  ^  B       c  ^  « 

S 

3 

"§ 

i 

" 

HI 

•§?« 

C                "^    O) 

^ 
•§ 

| 

* 

.S 

i 

o  2    s    ^2   bO 
MO* 

CH            OS 

1 

S! 

1 

l-il^^l  1  S  |l 

^ 

0  -     2    0  0  ^ 

i 

S3SSSSSSSS 

3 
I 

§55  =  SV- 

=T 

I 

a 
S 

^  of  cs  o  co  cs  o  ci  o  o 

< 
^ 

a*-  -  ^  "fl  - 

S 
g 

S^C^C^r^-?^^^ 

'iJ 

5>j 

YdKOO 

rf:  -  -  -  - 

s» 

J 

VJKOO 

&T3    Z    2    B~3    WV2  2 

r< 

B^*1  -     -3    ^ 

^ 

ri 

I 

g  aT                "c  «^ 
bO  >  ^    ^    >     Ul>^-^ 

5  'S               fe  'C 

Sj 

q 

^ 

W 

i 

«  !,«  -   ®-2 

03  CU                   02  2^ 

^ 

NAMES. 

O        ^          ^     £     M        ^                       •. 

0  o       d  °  ^  w           2 

NAMES. 

Edward  Graham 
David  Wilkins,  . 
Daniel  Shugare, 
Peter  H.  Fero... 
John  S.  Smith,. 
William  Youngs, 

•U3 

max 

•aa 

aitiiNr 

r-t  C<)  CO  ^  O  <O 

220 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


. 

i  J4  q%  2 


-w 
O't-i 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


221 


222 


HISTORIC   RECORDS. 


§ 


l*£ii' 


<u  *•    •  c>  -Z- 


,•*...]< iii 


'  7'  7'  7?  ?'  T?  7'  r*  7'  ?*  rr  "^"""""[f *3I  ^jf( 
7  7  7  7  7  7  7  7  f  '>  7  7  7  7  ' 


•a 


ii  i 


•*£  sfsV 


a 

3.    , 

O." 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


223 


!* 


:  5 


•  *— i  —  C^--  ~  C.       * 
l  >,y  x  =  i-   «       _= 

CQ 


=« 


•&    I 


' 

§2  !o  i  ifjjS 

•E*   :rs   :•*--= 

>4?-g^  »s!.  - 
illll=l4 

ria  s  v 


I 

IS 


^ 
^ 

*H 


_ 
opq 


I  I 

-r   «• 

a    P 


i  i  ii  i 


I  I  II  I 


i 


^ 

<  <  /.  /. 


'•  :    d" 


1 

> 

< 


. 

ijil 


' 


1 1 

!! 


Phillip  Krohn 
Alexander  Gu 


fllfl    . 


. 


EH    >-»    o 


S3    2    §    S    S    § 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Mementos  to  Officers. —  Col.  0.  DeForest. —  Col.  John  Hammond. 
— Surgeon  Lucius  P.  Woods. —  Major  A.  II.  Krom. —  Major  E. 
J.  Barker.—  Capt.  L.  L.  O'Connor. 

No  pains  have  been  spared  by  the  author  to  secure  docu 
ments  in  which  honorable  mention  had  been  made  of  officers 
and  privates  for  meritorious  conduct  in  battles,  but  with 
only  partial  success.  Such  as  have  been  obtained  are 
inserted,  though  many  names  ought  to  have  been  added  to 
this  list,  whose  deeds  were  glorious,  and  would  embellish 
the  pages  of  any  history. 

COLONEL  0.  DEFOREST. 

We  have  been  furnished  with  an  interesting  account  of 
the  presention  of  a  horse  to  Col.  DeForest,  clipped  from  a 
New  York  daily,  which  we  are  pleased  to  give  in  this  place. 
It  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  friends  of  Col.  DeForest  met  yesterday  (October, 
1861),  in  front  of  his  dwelling,  No.  97  East  Forty-ninth 
street,  and  presented  him  with  a  very  acceptable  token  of 
their  appreciation  of  him  as  an  officer,  and  also  of  his 
unequaled  efforts  in  raising  the  brigade  to  which  he  is 
attached.  The  present  was  a  splendid  light  dappled  gray 
stallion,  well  known  as  the  '  General  Jackson'  of  Cherry 
Valley.  He  is  seven  years  old,  a  noble  animal,  and  was 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  225 

purchased  specially  for  his  new  owner.  About  1.500  men 
of  the  brigade  almost  entirely  from  the  country,  fully 
uniformed,  and  preceded  by  their  own  splendid  band  of  twenty- 
eight  pieces,  were  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  block  in  which 
Col.  DeForest  resides,  the  intended  present  held  by  a  groom, 
being  immediately  in  front.  The  Hon.  D.  B.  Taylor  then 
stepped  out  upon  the  front  steps  of  the  building  and  form 
ally  presented  to  the  colonel,  who  was  standing  by  his  side, 
the  donation,  accompanied  by  the  following  remarks : 

"  Colonel  DeForest :  The  kind  partiality  of  your  immediate 
friends  and  neighbors  have  imposed  upon  nie  the  pleasing 
duty  of  presenting  to  you  in  their  name  something  which 
shall  be  calculated  to  keep  their  memories  ripe  with  you  in 
the  midst  of  the  excitements  and  dangers  to  which  you 
have  so  gallantly  dedicated  your  immediate  future.  *  * 

<;  These  men,  you  will  in  a  few  short  days  lead  into  a  battle 
field  such  as  the  good  people  of  this  heretofore  favored  land 
would  give  all  but  their  country's  life  to  avoid.  But  the 
sad  fiat  has  gone  forth  j  it  is  a  struggle  between  our 
country's  existence,  with  all  the  bright  hopes  of  returning 
happiness,  and  its  death  with  the  surest  certainty  of  ever 
lasting  woe  and  ruin.  Terrible  is  the  issue,  but  we  must 
contemplate  it  solely  with  the  stern  eye  of  philosophy,  and 
that,  too,  quickly.  Our  independence  was  achieved  by 
precious  blood  and  countless  treasure,  and  by  the  same  con 
sideration  can  it  now  only  be  preserved.  It  seems  that  the 
tree  of  Liberty  must  be  nourished  by  the  blood  of  its  sub 
jects;  to  this  conclusion,  however  sad,  must  every  honest 
conviction  turn.  You,  sir,  will  soon  lead  your  column  to 
its  position  in  the  long  line  of  battle,  and  to  bear  you 
proudly  on,  we,  whose  every  pulse  beats  high  with  hopes 

19 


226  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

for  your  success,  place  you  upon  the  back  of  this  field  horse 
and  pray  that  the  God  of  Battles  may  hold  the  rein,  until 
victory  shall  be  proclaimed  throughout  our  whole  country. 
Should  Providence,  in  its  inscrutable  wisdom,  cause  you  to 
perish  in  the  great  conflict  before  you,  we  feel  a  holy  assur 
ance  that  you  will  fall  with  your  face  to  the  heavens,  and 
your  feet  to  the  foe.  Go  on,  then:  adieu!  but  the  living 
God  grant  that  your  mission  may  be  fulfilled,  and  your 
glorious  and  happy  return  give  us  cause  for  a  day  joyous, 
far  more  joyous  than  this  ;  let  this  be  the  day  of  hope,  that 
the  fulfillment. 

"  Col.  DeForest  then  mounted  the  horse  as  the  band  struck 
up  an  appropriate  air,  and  when  the  music  ceased,  evidently 
with  a  good  deal  of  emotion,  very  happily  returned  his 
thanks  for  the  manifestation  toward  him,  and  fully  pledged 
himself  that  if  the  God  of  Battles  spared  his  life  he  would 
faithfully  fulfill  the  wishes  of  his  friends. 

"After  the  cheering  had  ceased,  a  call  was  made  for  Sen. 
Ira  Harris  of  Albany,  after  whom  the  Guard  take  their 
name.  He  soon  appeared  upon  the  balcony,  and,  being 
presented  by  Mr.  Taylor,  addressed  the  officers  and  soldiers 
for  a  few  moments  with  much  feeling,  telling  them  that 
although  he  was  too  far  advanced  in  life  to  join  them  as  a 
soldier,  he  felt  great  satisfaction  in  being  able  to  send  his 
name.  He  doubted  not  it  would  be  seen  where  rebellion 
was  strongest  and  treason  most  defiant,  and  he  was  perfectly 
willing  to  trust  it  in  the  keeping  of  such  officers  and  such  men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  227 

COL.  JOHN  HAMMOND. 

The  application  of  Col.  Hammond  for  muster  out  was 
endorsed  as  follows  : 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  Third  Cavalry  Division, 
August  30th,  1864. 
[Respectfully  forwarded,  approved]. 

Col.  Hammond  is  a  most  valuable  and  worthy  officer  and 
has  served  with  great  credit  to  himself  and  benefit  to  the 
service  —  but  the  regiment  would  be  left  in  the  hands  of  a 
good  officer  *  should  he  be  mustered  out,  while  the  reasons 
urged  by  Col.  Hammond  for  his  leaving  service  are  of  so 
grave  a  character  as  to  deserve  the  serious  consideration  of 
the  major  general  commanding  the  department. 

J.  H.  WILSON,  Brig.  Gen'l. 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  Cavalry  Forces, 

Middle  Military  Division, 

Charlestown,  Va.,  Aug.  SQth,  1864. 

I  am  constrained  to  approve  this  application  under  the 
circumstances  ;  but  I  am  pleased  to  mention  from  personal 
observation  that  he  is  one  of  the  most  accomplished  officers 
I  have  known  in  service,  and  the  country  can  ill  afford  to 
lose  the  services  of  such  an  officer  at  this  time. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

A.  T.  A.  TORBERT, 
Brig.  Gen.  Vols.  Com'd'g  Cav'y. 

A  few  days  after  Col.  Hammond  took  leave  of  his  com 
mand,  he  received  the  following  letter  : 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  Third  Cavalry  Division,  1 
Near  Berryville,  Aug.  Blst,  1864.  / 

My  Dear  Colonel:  I  am  sorry  you  took  your  final  fare 
well  from  the  division  without  letting  me  see  you  again  ;  I 
cannot,  however,  allow  your  absence  to  prevent  my  sending 

1  Lt.  Col.  Wm.  P.  Bacon 


,  ) 
,  >• 
.  ) 


228  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

after  you  my  sincere   regrets  at  losing  you,  and   my  best 
wishes  for  your  prosperity  and  happiness. 

It  is  no  flattery  to  say,  your  loss  cannot  be  repaired  in 
this  command  except  by  your  return  to  it,  and  I  must  earn 
estly  hope  for  its  sake  and  the  cause,  that  circumstances  may 
so  shape  themselves  as  to  allow  you  speedily  to  rejoin  us 
with  increased  rank  and  authority. 

There  may  be  something  personal  in  it,  but  your  absence 
gives  me  special  pain.  Our  cause,  the  country's,  needs  not 
only  the  support  of  stout  arms  and  brave  hearts,  but  that  of 
every  pure  and  moral  nature  in  the  land.  When  one  such 
as  yourself  leaves  the  service,  there  is,  therefore,  a  double 
loss,  with  more  than  the  ordinary  difficulties  to  overcome  in 
repairing  it.  There  are  plenty  of  men  who  wish  to  advance 
themselves,  but  few  that  are  worthy  of  the  places  to  which 
they  aspire. 

In  writing  you  this  letter  permit  me  to  assure  you  the 
sentiments  I  express  are  shared  by  Gen.  Sheridan  as  well  as 
by  every  member  of  my  staff. 

With  sentiments  of  the  highest  regard,  I  am,  Colonel, 
Very  Truly  Your  Friend, 

J.  H.  WILSON, 

Brig.  Gen'l. 

Shortly  after  his  departure  from  the  regiment,  the  fol 
lowing  letter  appeared  in  the  Essex  County  (N.  Y.)  Re 
publican.  Its  contents  were  approved  by  those  who  had 
been  the  colonel's  military  companions. 

It  is  seldom  we  are  called  upon  to  chronicle  as  painful 
an  event  as  that  which  separated  Col.  John  Hammond  from 
the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  After  so  long  a  term  of 
service  with  him,  we  had  learned  not  only  to  respect,  but  to 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  229 

love  him,  while  we  admired  the  great  virtues  which  so  hap 
pily  blend  in  him.  It  is  no  wonder  that  there  was  not  a 
dry  eye  among  the  officers  who  shook  his  hand  in  farewell 
greeting  yesterday,  nor  difficult  to  account  for  the  emotion 
which  choked  his  utterance  when  he  undertook  to  address 
us  a  few  parting  words. 

It  is  not  often  we  comment  upon  the  private  or  public 
virtues  of  living  men,  but  in  this  case  our  justification  lies 
in  derogating  from  our  general  rule. 

The  early  call  of  our  county  for  patriot  soldiers,  found 
nowhere  a  heartier  response  than  in  the  heart  of  John 
Hammond,  of  Crown  Point,  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.  Gathering 
together  the  young  men  of  his  neighborhood,  a  company 
of  as  effective  men  as  ever  drew  a  sabre  was  formed,  known 
as  company  H,  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  and  John  Ham 
mond  was  chosen  its  captain  and  leader.  To  his  men  the 
captain  devoted  his  attention  and  means.  Mutual  confidence 
and  respect  increased  with  discipline  in  camp  and  service 
in  the  field.  It  was  soon  discovered  that  Capt.  Hammond 
was  no  ordinary  military  leader.  Gradually  he  rose  from 
one  post  of  trust  to  another.  While  a  major  he  had  com 
mand  of  the  regiment  more  than  a  year.  At  the  earliest 
vacancy  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant  colonel,  and  soon 
thereafter  colonel,  and  no  man  ever  bore  the  spread  eagle 
more  worthily.  Had  not  his  term  of  service  expired  at  a 
time  when  the  call  of  his  family  was  nearly  imperative,  we 
doubt  not  he  would  soon  have  borne  the  star.  The  com 
mendations  he  has  received  from  both  division  and  brigade 
commanders,  are  known  to  us  all,  and  are  such  as  any  man 
might  be  proud  of.  His  fame  is  unsullied  and  extensive, 
his  record  fair  and  imperishable. 


230  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Few  men  combine  in  themselves  so  many  qualifications 
of  the  true  man  and  soldier.  His  patriotism  was  not  a 
mere  matter  of  name,  as  the  sacrifices  he  made  for  his  coun 
try  fully  attest.  All  who  came  in  contact  with  him  felt 
that  this  was  the  ruling  motive  of  all  his  action.  As  a 
disciplinarian  he  was  strict  without  being  severe,  and  thor 
ough.  In  preparation  for,  and  during,  a  battle,  none  could 
excel  him. 

His  plans  were  quickly  made  and  well  executed. 
His  selection  of  positions,  and  disposition  of  forces  always 
exhibited  great  sagacity  and  military  genius.  He  held 
his  men  in  perfect  control.  His  clear  voice  went  like 
magic  through  the  ranks,  while  his  manly  form,  always  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fight,  elicited  the  warmest  enthusiasm. 
His  equanimity  of  mind  was  never  overcome  by  his  celerity 
of  motion,  but  seemed  to  be  equal.  Rarely  is  so  great  pru 
dence  found  with  so  undaunted  courage.  He  had  an 
indomitable  will  that  would  not  brook  defeat.  The  word 
impossible  he  never  knew,  when  difficulties  came  between 
him  and  duty.  He  was  ambitious,  yet  humble. 

Added  to  all  these  mental  qualifications  was  that  perfect 
physique,  which  made  John  Hammond  the  model  soldier. 
As  an  equestrian  we  have  nevBi*  seen  his  superior.  His 
power  of  endurance  also  was  very  great.  For  three  long 
years  of  active  service  he  has  stood  with  the  regiment  mid 
storm  and  sun,  mid  fatigue  and  danger.  He  was  no  wan 
derer  from  his  men,  nor  lover  of  ease  at  the  expense  of 
duty.  For  this  the  men  honored  him;  and  they  loved  him 
because  in  all  his  promotions  he  never  forgot  their  wants, 
nor  stood  aloof  from  them.  He  was  always  the  affable  yet 
dignified  John  Hammond  they  had  known  in  days  past. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  231 

We  hope  the  men  of  his  late  command  will  never  forget  his 
last  words  to  them:  — "  God  bless  you." 

Long  live  Col.  John  Hammond,  and  long  be  remembered 
among  us  his  military  and  social  virtues. 

SURGEON  Lucius  P.  WOODS. 

HEAD  QUARTERS  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  1 
Winchester,  Va.,  July  Wth,  1865.  / 

Intelligence  having  been  received  of  the  death  of  Dr. 
Lucius  P.  Woods,  late  surgeon  of  this  regiment,  a  meet 
ing  was  this  day  convened,  and  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Major  H.  A.  D.  Merritt,  Chaplain  L.  N.  Boudrye  and  Capt. 
L.  C.  Abbott  was  appointed  to  prepare  fitting  resolutions 
expressive  of  our  sorrow.  The  following  were  submitted 
and  approved. 

Resolved.  That  we,  the  officers  of  the  Fifth  Regiment  of 
Cavalry,  New  York  State  Volunteers,  have  heard  with  most 
profound  sorrow,  of  the  death  of  our  late  surgeon,  Dr. 
Lucius  P.  Woods,  at  Winsted,  Conn.,  May  30th,  1865, 
and  desire  to  convey  to  his  bereaved  wife  and  friends  our 
sympathy,  and  to  express  our  sentiments  of  esteem  and 
respect  for  the  memory  of  our  late  comrade  and  friend. 
Appointed  to  this  regiment,  December  24th,  1861,  he 
shared  with  us,  during  three  years'  active  service,  its  vicis 
situdes,  dangers  and  privations.  Devoted  to  the  duties  of 
his  vocation,  he  added  to  rare  professional  skill  the  most 
untiring  industry.  Insensible  to  fear,  indefatigable  to 
alleviate  suffering,  he  was  ever  to  be  found  where  the  battle 
raged  most  fiercely,  ministering  to  the  wounded,  shunning 
not  the  post  of  danger,  if  it  were  but  the  post  of  duty. 

Conscious  of  declining  health,  and  viewing  with  calmness 
and  resignation  the  rapidly  approaching  termination  of  his 


232  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

life,  ne  persevered,  until  strength  failed  him,  in  the  dis 
charge  of  his  responsible  and  arduous  duties.  Finally, 
enfeebled  and  dying,  he  returned  to  the  peaceful  scenes  of 
home,  and  to  the  loved  home  circle,  to  meet  the  final  change. 
Happily  his  earnest  patriotism  was  rewarded  with  a  know 
ledge  of  the  triumph  of  the  cause  to  which  he  gave  his  life. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  several  positions  of  surgeon  of  the 
Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  surgeon-in-chief  of  the  First  brig 
ade,  Third  cavalry  division,  surgeon-in-chief  of  the  Third 
cavalry  division  and  medical  director  of  the  Cavalry  corps, 
Army  of  the  Shenandoah,  Dr.  Woods  earned  the  commen 
dation,  respect  and  affection  of  all  who  knew  him,  from  the 
soldier  in  the  ranks  to  the  major  general  commanding. 

Resolved,  That  as  a  friend  we  found  in  him  every  quality 
that  could  endear  him  to  us  and  embalm  his  memory  in  our 
minds.  To  the  refinement  of  the  gentleman  he  added 
social  and  Christian  virtues  rarely  equaled,  and  while  his 
loss  will  be  deplored  by  all,  to  ourselves,  peculiarly  his 
friends,  it  is  irreparable.  We  will  cherish  his  memory  and 
strive  to  imitate  his  example. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  signed  by  the 
officers  of  the  regiment,  be  transmitted  to  Mrs.  L.  P. 
Woods,  to  whom  we  tender  our  sincere  condolence.  May 
"  He  who  tempereth  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb,"  comfort 
and  sustain  her ;  and  may  the  blessed  thought  that  he  has 
given  his  life  for  his  country  mitigate  the  anguish  of  her 
bereavement. 

Interesting  extracts  from  Dr.  Woods'  letters  from  the 
army,  are  here  inserted. 

"  HARTWOOD  CHURCH,  VA.,  Sept.  5/7t,  1863." 

"  I  returned  yesterday  after  a  three  days  expedition  after 


FIFTH  XEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  235 

gun-boats  !  1  We  all  laughed  at  the  order,  sending  cavalry 
after  such  craft,  but  I  am  happy  to  say,  that  the  object  of 
the  expedition  was  accomplished.  We  left  camp  at  two 
o'clock  A.  M.,  marched  all  day  and  all  night,  till  three 
o'clock  next  morning,  when  we  made  a  furious  charge  upon 
Rebel  infantry.  They  ran  so  fast  as  to  disarrange  the  gen 
eral's  plan  of  attack.  The  morning  was  so  dark  we  could 
not  see  one  rod  in  advance.  We  captured  twelve  or  four 
teen  prisoners,  and  Gen.  Kilpatrick  gave  orders  in  their 
hearing  to  have  the  whole  command  fall  back,  stating  that 
the  gun-boats  would  be  alarmed  and  the  expedition  be  a 
failure.  The  general  took  particular  pains  to  allow  half 
the  prisoners  to  escape  and  get  across  the  Rappahannock. 
After  falling  back  two  miles,  we  were  counter-marched 
toward  the  river,  near  which  we  were  formed  in  line  of 
battle.  We  sat  there  on  our  horses  waiting  for  daylight. 
Then  the  flying  artillery  of  ten  guns,  supported  by  the  old 
Fifth  New  York  and  First  Michigan,  dashed  at  a  full  run 
down  to  the  river  bank,  wheeled  into  position  and  gave  the 
Rebels  a  small  cargo  of  hissing  cast  iron,  which  waked  them 
up  more  effectually  than  their  ordinary  morning  call.  They 
soon  came  to  their  senses,  apd  for  half  an  hour  sent  over  to 
us  what  I  should  think  to  be,  by  the  noise  they  made,  tea 
kettles,  cooking  stoves,  large  cast  iron  hats,  &c.  But  our 
smaller  and  more  active  guns  soon  silenced  theirs  and  drove 
their  gunners  away,  when  we  turned  our  attention  to  the 
boring  of  holes  in  their  boats  with  conical  pieces  of  iron, 
vulgarly  called  solid  shot.  I  assure  you  I  can  recommend 
them  as  first  class  augers,  for  they  sank  the  boats  in  time 


1  See  page  74. 


236  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

for  all  hands  to  sit  down  to  breakfast  at  half  past  nine 
o'clock.  The  repast  consisted  of  muddy  water,  rusty  salt 
pork  and  half  a  hard  cracker,  termed  by  us  '  an  iron  clad 
breakfast.'  We  were  absent  from  camp  three  days  and  had 
only  nine  hours'  sleep." 

"  August  29^,  1864." 

"  I  was  quite  astonished  yesterday  at  receiving  a  paper, 
signed  by  nearly  all  the  officers  of  the  regiment  and  approved 
by  Gen.  Mclntosh,  offering  me  the  colonelcy  of  the  regi 
ment.  I  am  now  surgeon-in-chief  of  the  division." 

"  February  12th,  1865." 

"  To  Colonel  Hammond  :  My  official  business  is  done  by 
a  clerk  and  I  simply  sign  my  name.  The  reason  :  a  terrible 
cough,  drenching  night  sweats,  swollen  feet  and  limbs  and 
diarrhoea.  Are  not  these  sufficient  to  palsy  the  brain  and 
hand  ?  Often  have  I  tried  with  my  will  to  arouse  my 
system  to  action  and  my  mind  to  its  duty,  but  as  I  crawled 
to  bed  I  almost  cursed  the  sluggish  brain  that  balked  my 
efforts." 

We  gladly  insert  the  following  tribute  to  Dr.  Woods,  in 
a  letter  from  Col.  Hammond  to  Dr.  H.  M.  Knight,  of  Lake- 
ville,  Conn. 

"  It  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  think  of  writing  any 
thing  that  would  do  justice  to  the  memory  of  one  I  loved  so 
much.  I  could  but  poorly  give  you  an  idea  of  the  many 
trials  and  hardships  as  well  as  incidents  of  a  pleasing 
character,  through  which  myself  and  dear  friend  have 
passed  together. 

"  His  frankness  and  determination  won  him  a  host  of 
friends  wherever  he  went.  He  was  ever  quick  to  appre 
ciate  worth  and  kindness,  and  ever  as  ready  to  resent  a 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  237 

wrong  or  injury.  ******!  wiH  close  by  saying  that 
Dr.  Woods  was  ever  in  my  mind  the  most  perfect  type  of  a 
man  I  ever  met." 

Dr.  Woods  graduated  at  the  medical  college  of  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  in  November,  1855. 

CAPTAIN  (afterward  Major)  A.  H.  KROM. 
From  the  Oweyo  Times*  of  May,  1864,  we  clip  the  follow 
ing  memorial : 

HEAD  QUARTERS  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry, ") 
Fairfax  Court  House,  Va.,  May  19fA,  1863.  / 

This  has  been  a  high  day  for  the  officers  and  men  of 
company  Gr ;  and  well  might  it  be  so,  for  the  boys  were 
about  to  consummate  a  noble  enterprise,  and  true  merit  was 
about  to  be  rewarded.  We  may  as  well  tell  the  story  plain 
ly.  Capt.  Kroni  had  distinguished  himself  as  a  man  and 
soldier  in  camp  and  in  battle.  On  the  3d  instant,  during  a 
severe  engagement  with  Maj.  Mosby's  Rebel  band,  at  War- 
renton  Junction,  Va.,  Capt  K.  narrowly  escaped  with  his 
life,  bearing  away  two  fearful  wounds,  one  in  his  left  leg, 
the  other  in  the  face.  His  horse  was  killed  under  him; 
but  he  had  used  his  sabre  with  terrible .  effect  upon  the 
enemy,  as  only  the  man  with  a  brave  heart  and  strong  arm 
can  do.  From  that  time  he  has  been  a  cheerful  sufferer  in 
our  hospital.  He  will  doubtless  recover,  as  is  the  strong 
desire  of  all  his  companions  in  arms.  His  absence  from  the 
company  did  not  obliterate  his  memory  from  the  boys. 
They  have  been  busy  raising  funds  among  themselves, 
every  man  in  the  company  contributing  freely,  and  to-day 
we  see  the  result  —  a  beautiful  sash,  sicord  and  belt  for  the 
captain.  At  six  o'clock  p.  M.  the  ceremony  of  presentation 


238  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

took  place.  The  company  were  all  present,  drawn  up  in 
line  before  the  captain,  who  had  been  brought  to  his  camp 
quarters  on  a  stretcher,  and  seated  in  a  large  arm  chair  se 
cured  for  the  occasion.  Many  officers  of  the  regiment  were 
present,  while  ladies  assisted  in  making  the  company  com 
plete.  The  sword  was  presented  by  Lieut.  Krohn,  company 
Gr,  who  read  the  following  address : 

"Esteemed  Commander:  The  men  who  have  the  pleasure 
and  honor  of  being  under  your  command;  men  who  have 
learned  to  respect  you  for  your  uniformly  kind  and  generous 
conduct  toward  them,  who  have  learned  to  love  you  as  only 
soldiers  can  love  their  benefactor  in  the  midst  of  danger 
and  trial ;  men  who  now  admire  you  for  your  tried  courage 
and  undaunted  bravery  in  battle ;  these  men  have  gathered 
around  you  to-day  to  express  their  deep  gratitude  to  the 
kind  Providence  that  has  preserved  your  life  to  this  hour, 
and  to  present  to  you  a  token  expressive  of  their  high  ap 
preciation  of  your  military  genius  and  valor.  And  what 
better  could  we  give  to  one  who  has  distinguished  himself 
with  the  sabre  in  so  many  engagements,  and  especially  on 
the  3d  instant,  at  Warrenton  Junction,  Va.?  where  you 
valiantly  fought,  and  gloriously  fell,  bleeding  from  the 
wounds  that  remove  you,  only  temporarily,  we  trust,  from 
our  mdist? 

What  better  could  we  present  to  such  a  hero  than 
this  sword  ? 

"  Captain,  take  this  :  I  present  it  on  behalf  of  these  men, 
who  desire  never  to  have  a  better  commander ;  who  pray 
God  to  restore  you  speedily  to  strength  and  to  command 
again,  that,  with  you,  they  may  march  on  to  conquest  and 
to  victory,  and,  if  need  be,  to  death,  scattering  the  enemies 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  239 

of  our  beloved  country,  and  bearing  aloft  the  '  Stars  and 
Stripes'  in  proud  triumph/' 

The  captain  not  being  able  to  respond  on  account  of  his 
wounds,  the  chaplain  of  the  regiment,  who  stood  by,  spoke 
as  follows : 

'•  In  behalf  and  by  request  of  the  captain,  I  wish  to  make 
a  few  remarks  in  response  to  the  sentiments  expressed  by 
the  company  and  the  gift  presented.  He  looks  upon  this 
as  one  of  the  proudest  days  of  his  history,  and  the  most 
memorable  since  he  entered  the  service  of  his  country.  For 
nearly  two  years  he  has  been  your  commander,  while  the 
very  best  of  feeling  has  existed  between  you  and  him  from 
the  first  to  the  present,  only  with  an  increase  of  respect  and 
affection.  He  has  occasion  to-day  to  entertain  the  hope  that 
the  future,  in  this  respect,  will  be  but  a  repetition  of  the 
past. 

"  As  to  his  gratitude  for  your  kindness  so  generously  ex 
pressed  in  the  gift  of  this  hour,  it  cannot  be  told.  When 
a  man  is  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  thankfulness,  words 
are  not  adequate  to  the  task  of  uttering  the  pent-up  emo 
tion.  And  his  gratitude  is  greatly  multiplied  as  he  recog 
nizes  in  this  gift  an  expression,  not  only  of  personal  regard 
toward  him,  but  also  of  devoted  loyalty  to  the  cause  of  the 
Union,  and  of  attachment  to  the  good  old  flag,  which  he 
feels  you  are  determined  to  bear  forward  until  it  shall  wave 
in  triumph  over  every  land  and  sea.  Men,  you  behold 
your  captain,  wounded  and  disabled;  but  he  wishes  me 
to  say  to  you  that  he  hopes  the  time  is  not  far  distantr 
when  his  wonted  strength  and  vigor  will  return  to  his  now 
somewhat  withered  limbs  —  when  again,  at  the  shrill 
battle-notes  of  the  bugle,  he  shall  be  permitted,  with  you, 
20 


240  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

to  leap  forward  to  glorious  Conflict.  Though  wounded 
he  is  not  killed.  In  conclusion,  allow  me,  on  his  behalf,  to 
bow  to  you  all  most  heartfelt  thanks." 

After  this  ceremony,  the  numerous  guests  and  all  the 
company  were  richly  entertained  with  a  sumptuous  supper, 
gotten  up  by  the  captain.  Thus  ended  an  interesting 
chapter  in  the  annals  of  company  G-,  Fifth  New  York 
Cavalry. 

LIEUTENANT  (afterward  Major)  E.  J.  BARKER. 

From  one  of  the  April  (1864)  numbers  of  the  Essex 
County  Republican,  we  extract  an  interesting  account  of 
a  sword  presentation  to  Lieut.  Barker,  at  a  large  meeting, 
held  at  Hammond's  Corners,  Crown  Point,  when  the  vete 
rans  of  company  H  were  welcomed  by  the  people,  on  their 
veteran  furloughs. 

Hervey  Spencer,  Esq.,  having  been  requested  by  com 
pany  H,  on  behalf  of  the  company,  presented  to  Lieut.  E. 
J.  Barker  a  beautiful  sword,  purchased  by  the  members 
of  the  company  for  gallant  conduct  in  battle,  particularly 
that  of  Greenwich,  May  30th,  1863. 

Mr.  Spencer,  in  an  able  manner,  addressed  the  young 
lieutenant,  giving  a  short  sketch  of  his  gallant  and  manly 
bearing  since  entering  the  service,  reminding  him  of  the 
due  appreciation  of  his  conduct  and  bravery,  by  the  brave 
men  of  his  command,  and  as  a  testimonial  of  their  love  and 
esteem  of  him  whom  they  had  followed  even  to  the  can 
non's  mouth,  presented  him  with  this  beautiful  sword. 

Lieut.  Barker,  made  a  short  but  eloquent  reply. 

He  thanked  them  for  this  token  of  their  regard  for  him. 
He  said  he  had  simply  done  his  duty.  That  without  their 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  241 

cooperation  lie  could  have  done  nothing.  He  again  feel 
ingly  thanked  them  for  their  beautiful  present,  and  assured 
them  that  when  they  returned  to  the  field,  that  it  should  be 
faithfully  wielded  by  him  in  the  defense  of  his  country,  as 
long  as  armed  treason  existed  within  her  borders. 

The  gallant  lieutenant  was  heartily  cheered  and  congratu 
lated  for  his  very  appropriate  and  elegant  remarks. 

LIEUT,  (afterward  Capt.)  LAURENCE  L.  O'CONNOR. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  Washington  D.  C.,  1 
April  2d,  1863.  / 

Sir:  I  am  directed  by  the  secretary  of  war,  to  acknow 
ledge  the  vigilance  and  fidelity  with  which  it  is  reported, 
you  have  in  the  discharge  of  your  duty,  as  Provost  Mar 
shal  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  watched  contrabandists  and 
prevented  or  broken  up  their  disreputable  and  disloyal 
trade. 

Your  integrity  and  efficiency  in  the  discharge  of  your 
duties  merit  and  will  receive  the  commendation  of  this 
department. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

P.  H.  WATSON, 
Assistant  Secretary  of  War. 
Lieut.  O'CONNOR,  5th  N.  Y.  Cavalry,      ") 
Provost  Marshal,  Fairfax,  C.  H.,  Va.  i 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

Influence  of  Campaigning  on  our  Men. —  Who  can  best  Resist  the 
Evils. —  Means  Employed. —  The  Mail  Bag. —  The  Spelling 
School.— Literary  Classes. —  Our  Chapel  Tents. —  Our  Tempe 
rance  Club. —  Meetings  for  Religious  Worship. —  The  Effect  on 
our  Discipline. 

Many  unavoidable  influences  have  a  very  detrimental 
effect  upon  the  niind  of  the  soldier.'  His  frequent  expo 
sures  to  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  of  hunger  and  thirst, 
of  fatigue  and  excitement,  with  the  general  wear  and  tear 
of  military  life,  debilitate  body  and  mind  together.  Only 
men  of  the  most  steady  habits,  and  of  naturally  strong  phy 
sical  constitutions,  can  at  all  resist  these  influences;  and 
even  such  men  are  more  or  less  affected.  Such  influences 
the  soldier  experiences  on  the  difficult  and  dangerous 
picket;  on  the  long,  tedious  march,  through  rain,  dust,  or 
snow;  in  the  fierce  conflict  of  battle,  and,  more  emphatically 
still,  in  the  dreary  dungeon,  and  by  the  barbarous  treatment 
of  the  enemy  while  a  captive  in  his  hands.  Under  the 
above  exigencies,  the  cavalry  suffers  more  than  the  infantry  — 
it  is  more  constantly  on  duty,  and,  when  in  captivity,  feels 
more  poignantly  the  effects  of  the  weary  foot  marches  to 
which  our  prisoners  have  been  so  often  subjected. 

Aside  from  these  influences,  affecting  the  entire  mental 
manhood,  are  others  which  have  only  a  moral  bearing. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  243 

First,  and,  perhaps,  most  important  of  these,  'is  the  remo 
val  of  the  wholesome  and  normal  restraints  of  virtuous  soci 
ety,  of  home  and  its  hallowed  associations.  These  influences 
muy  not  he  entirely  forgotten  by  the  soldier,  but  in  few 
cases  only  do  they  control  him.  Neither  must  it  be  ig 
nored  that  his  business,  in  great  part,  is  demoralizing.  He 
is  taught  and  disciplined  for  one  thing  —  to  destroy  and  kill. 
Moreover,  he  is  often  compelled  to  execute  orders  of  re 
taliation  for  acts  of  brutality  and  murder,  perpetrated  by 
the  enemy.1  However  noble  may  be  the  object  sought,  or 
wholesome  the  influence  of  the  chastisement  visited  upon 
the  evil-doers,  these  military  necessities  are  far  from  being 
promoters  of  morality  in  the  actors.  While  we  doubt  not 
that  the  ultimate  influence  of  war  is  salutary  on  the  body 
politic  and  social  of  a  nation,  yet  it  must  be  conceded  that 
the  actors  in  war, —  soldiers  in  camp  and  field,  are  them 
selves  more  or  less  demoralized.  And  this  must  be  said 
even  of  our  army,  the  most  intellectual  and  moral  army 
ever  known  in  the  history  of  nations.  Soldiering  makes 
some  men;  it  ttuinakes  many. 

This  regiment  has  had  occasion  to  feel  a  due  proportion 
of  evil  influences,  which  are  inseparably  connected  with 
active  military  service.  But  there  has  been  displayed  a 
strong  disposition  to  resist  and  overcome  them;  so  that 
while  evils  have  abounded  among  us,  we  are  not  without 
some  tokens  of  mental  and  moral  strength,  as  well  as  growth 
and  development.  These  have  been  manifested,  while  in 
camp,  through  the  mail-bag,  which  carried,  on  an  average, 
about  one  hundred  and  tweutv-five  letters  per  day;  also  in 


1  See  page  176. 


244  HISTORIC  BECORDS. 

literary  classes,  established  in  the  spring  of  1863,  in  men 
tal  arithmetic,  phonography  and  French,  which  were  kept 
up  as  long  as  camp  life  permitted,  and  evinced  remarkable 
application  and  scholarship.  Mention  must  also  be  made  of 
what  the  boys  of  the  Old  Fifth  will  never  forget,  of  the 
spelling  school,  which  was  held  regularly  once  a  week,  and 
called  out  crowded  audiences  of  happy,  thoughtful  fellows. 
The  following  account  of  "Our  First  Spelling  School  in 
Camp,"  is  drawn  partially  from  my  diary  and  was  published 
in  February,  1864,  in  the  New  York  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal. 

Efforts  had  been  put  forth  for  several  weeks  to  get  the 
men  out  to  the  newly-erected  chapel  tent  for  religious  ser 
vices;  also  for  classes  in  reading,  writing,  spelling,  arith 
metic,  phonography,  etc.,  but  the  number  secured  did  not 
appear  commensurate  to  the  occasions.  Finally,  while  re 
peatedly  asking  myself  the  question,  "What  can  I  do 
more?"  my  mind  alighted  upon  what  promised  to  meet  the 
exigency  of  the  times.  Immediately  I  announced  at  the 
meetings,  and  to  individuals  whom  I  met,  that  on  Monday 
night,  Feb.  15th,  there  would  be  a  spelling  school  in  the 
chapel.  By  the  sparkle  of  many  an  eye  I  quickly  saw  that 
I  had  pulled  on  the  right  string.  The  appointed  time  for 
our  first  spelling  school  in  camp  drew  near  but  too  tardily. 

The  evening  was  fine  and  the  chapel  full.  We  soon 
addressed  ourselves  to  the  business  of  the  occasion.  It  was 
a  season  of  intense  enjoyment.  The  "choosing  of  sides" 
and  the  "  spelling  down,"  how  much  they  reminded  us  of 
schoolboy  days  !  Every  one  was  happy  in  that  remem 
brance,  and  joyful  in  the  new  throbbings  of  intellectual  life. 
The  short  intermission  for  rest,  after  the  severe  conflict,  in 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  245 

which  troop  "A"  missed  fire  eleven  times,  and  troop  "B" 
ten,  was  spent  in  social  parley,  and  ended  with  the  "  Star- 
spangled  Banner,"  sung  with  an  unusual  zest. 

Spelling  was  continued  with  such  interest  that  the  shrill 
roll-call  took  us  all  by  surprise,  and  we  dispersed,  each 
feeling  that  long  would  be  remembered  the  spelling  school, 
at  which  our  pedagogue  was  the  chaplain,  and  our  spelling- 
book,  the  Army  Regulations  I 

I  regard  this  enterprise  as  a  great  success  in  my  line  of 
duty  as  chaplain.  For, 

First.  Anything  that  will  stimulate  the  mind  toward 
general  improvement,  must  be  beneficial.  The  peculiar 
trials,  habits  and  labors  of  the  soldier,  very  naturally  be 
numb  his  intellect,  and,  in  a  great  measure,  incapacitate 
him  for  mental  and  moral  improvement.  Hence  ordinary 
influences  fail  to  reach  him.  Something  peculiar  must  be 
tried.  This  was  furnished  by  the  spelling-school  movement. 

Second.  Memories  of  childhood's  innocence  and  youth's 
impressive  lessons  at  the  home  fireside,  at  the  church  and 
school,  are  the  most  potent  influences  which  can  be  brought 
to  bear  on  the  soldier's  heart  and  conduct.  These  may  be 
aroused,  to  a  certain  extent,  by  the  chaplain's  ordinary  labor, 
but  to  a  much  greater  extent  by  this  novel  spelling-school 
movement. 

Third.  The  chaplain's  influence  in  the  regiment  is  pro 
portionate  to  his  real  acquaintance  with  the  men.  This  he 
may  gain  by  various  means :  by  distributing  papers  from 
tent  to  tent;  by  visiting  the  sick  at  the  hospital  and  at 
their  quarters ;  by  the  public  services  for  preaching ;  by 
the  Sunday  school  or  Bible  class,  and  other  social,  religious 
assemblies ;  but  in  all  these  he  appears  in  his  official  capa- 


246  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

city,  and  the  soldier  who  is  so  disposed,  has  ample  opportu 
nity  to  prepare  himself  to  repel  every  approach.  Not  so 
when  the  chaplain  comes  as  the  schoolmaster,  the  good- 
natured  schoolmaster  of  bygone  days.  The  chaplain  thus, 
though  not  with  the  intention  of  the  spy,  approaches  una- 
wures  to  the  heart  of  the  soldier,  and  then  has  power  to  do 
him  good.  While  I  do  not  ignore  any  ordinary  means  of 
chaplain's  service,  I  heartily  rejoice  in  the  spelling-school 
movement. 

Our  second  spelling  school  in  camp,  Providence  per 
mitting,  will  be  held  on  Monday  evening,  Feb.  22d,  the 
anniversary  of  Washington's  birthday. 

For  all  these  privileges  we  were  much  indebted  to  the 
U.  S.  Christian  Commission,  which  furnished  us  with 
large  flies  or  paulous  and  stoves,  with  which  we  were  able 
to  construct  rude,  but  comfortable  chapel  tents.  These 
tents  were  built  of  large  logs  or  trees,  notched  at  the  ends, 
and  thus  fitted  one  on  the  other,  for  the  walls,  while  the 
whole  was  covered  over  by  means  of  the  flies  furnished  by 
the  Commission.  By  a  careful  application  of  mud — that 
Virginia  mortar  with  which  every  soldier  is  so  familiar — - 
to  the  crevices  between  the  logs,  then  by  flooring  with  pine 
boughs,  or  boards,  as  opportunity  allowed,  we  secured 
places  for  our  public  assemblies,  resembling  those  of  our 
pioneers  in  the  western  wilds,  and  rivaling  for  comfort,  if 
not  for  architecture,  those  of  our  northern  homes.  In 
these  chapels  were  also  evidenced  our  moral  and  religious 
tendencies.  Not  only  to  the  classes  and  schools  did  the 
boys  turn  their  attention,  but  night  after  night  many  could 
be  seen  wending  their  way  from  their  tents  to  the  meetings 
for  temperance,  and  for  religious  worship.  An  honorable 


L_ 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  249 

scroll,  superscribed  with  a  total  abstinence  pledge,  contains 
the  names  of  upward  two  hundred  men  of  the  regiment. 
On  this  subject  I  quote  from  my  diary. 

February  2lst,  1864.  It  is  gratifying  to  see  that  notwith 
standing  the  almost  universal  custom  of  dram  drinking  in 
the  army,  the  subject  of  temperance  meets  with  general  ac 
ceptation  when  it  is  fairly  presented  to  soldiers.  On  Wed 
nesday  evening,  the  17th  instant,  I  lectured  on  the  trite  sub 
ject  of  the  "  physical  and  mental  influences  of  intemper 
ance."  A  lively  interest  was  awakened.  I  at  once  pro 
posed  the  organization  of  a  temperance  society.  At  least 
one-half  the  audience  voted  for  it.  A  committee  was  ap 
pointed,  who  drafted  the  following  preamble  and  pledge  : 

<;  We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the  Fifth  New  York 
Cavalry,  desiring  to  strengthen  each  other  against  the  evils 
of  intemperance  and  to  save  therefrom  our  comrades  in 
arms,  if  possible,  do  hereby  form  ourselves  into  a  society 
to  be  known  as  '  The  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry  Temperance 
Club,'  and  agree  to  conform  to  the  following  pledge:  I 
hereby,  solemnly  pledge  myself,  on  the  honor  of  a  gentleman 
and  soldier,  to  abstain  entirely  from  the  use  of  all  intoxicat 
ing  liquors." 

This  evening  our  chapel  was  crowded  for  a  temperance 
meeting.  Chaplain  Roe,  Second  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  gave  us  a 
spicy  talk  on  the  degrading  influences  of  intemperance. 
Mr.  James  H.  Bond,  of  Co.  A,  followed  him,  giving  us 
"  bits  "  of  personal  experience,  and  deepening  the  interest 
already  awakened.  I  then  offered  the  pledge.  The  invi 
tation  was  promptly  responded  to  and  by  greater  numbers 
than  had  been  expected  by  the  most  sanguine.  Several 
made  remarks  as  they  came  up  to  the  noble  work.  One 


250  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

said,  "  How  glad  will  mother  be  when  she  hears  of  this." 
Another,  "  My  wife  would  rejoice  to  know  what  I  am  doing." 
Some  one  asked,  "  When  a  soldier  deserts  the  country's 
cause  we  shoot  him  ;  what  shall  we  do  to  him  who  deserts 
this  cause  ?"  "  Shoot  him,"  was  the  almost  unanimous 
reply.  One  officer  came  forward,  saying,  "  he  could  not 
bear  being  stumped  by  a  private."  The  work  went  on 
gloriously.  Forty-seven  names  were  on  our  list  before  the 
meeting  closed ;  forty-three  in  the  column,  "  for  life,"  and 
four,  "  for  term  of  service." 

The  meeting  was  one  of  intense  interest  —  I  think  we 
never  can  forget  it.  At  a  later  date  I  wrote  as  follows  : 
ninety-five  have  given  their  names.  Our  meetings  are 
large  and  interesting.  A  pledge  also  against  profanity  is 
being  circulated  with  success. 

April  29th,  1864.  Before  leaving  our  old  camp  ground, 
this  morning,  the  two-hundredth  man  signed  the  pledge,  in 
consequence  of  which,  Mr.  Doggett,  the  owner  of  the 
place,  who  was  present,  changed  the  name  of  the  eminence 
from  "The  Devil's  Leap"  to  "Temperance  Hill,"  a  name 
which  it  truly  deserved  and  which  should  go  down  to  his 
tory.  Some  remarkable  instances  of  reform  from  intemper 
ance  as  well  as  from  profanity  might  be  mentioned,  while 
the  Christian  would  delight  to  hear  recitals  of  reforms  even 
more  radical  and  far-reaching.  Meetings  for  divine  wor 
ship,  which  have  been  numerous  during  winter  quarters, 
whether  held  in  chapels,  rudely  constructed  by  our  own 
hands,  or  under  "  the  clouded  canopy  or  starry  decked 
heaven,"  in  woods  or  fields,  have  been  generally  well  at 
tended.  These  agencies  have  had  no  small  influence  on  the 
discipline  and  consequent  efficiency  of  the  regiment. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Life  in  Southern  Prisons.  —  Personal  Experience  of  the  Author.  — 
Capture.  —  Gen.  Stuart.  —  Incidents  of  March  to  Staunton,  Va., 
from  Pennsylvania. —  Libby  Prison,  Richmond.  —  Cruelties  of 
Managers.  —  State  of  Rooms.  — Vermin.  —  Rations.  —  The  Soup. 

—  Water.  —  Richmond   Papers.  —  "Skirmishing."  —  Bone  Cut 
ting. —  The  Debating  Club. —  "Libby  Lice-I-see-'em,"  (Lyceum). 

—  The  Weekly  Libby  Chronicle.  —  Literary  Classes. —  Religious 
Services.  — The  Author  Preaches  to  our  Prisoners  in  Pember- 
ton  Castle.  —  Wretched   Condition    of  our  Men.  —  Release. — 
What   he   Brought   with   him.  —  Diary  of  Sufferings   at  Salis 
bury,  N.  C. — Untold   Wretchedness   at    Andersonville,  Ga, — 
List  of  Men  who  Died  in  Rebel  Prisons. 

Life  in  southern  prisons  presents  us  by  far  the  darkest 
picture  of  the  war.  The  cruel  treatment  of  prisoners  during 
the  dark  ages  of  the  past,  seems  but  as  a  pleasant  pastime, 
compared  to  that  inflicted  upon  our  brave  men  at  Richmond, 
Salisbury,  Columbia,  Andersonville,  and  at  other  places,  by 
the  professedly  chivalrous  people  of  the  south.  The  statis 
tics  of  these  pages  show,  that  while  the  enemy  killed  but 
seventy -five  of  our  men  in  battle,  he  killed  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  in  his  prisons.  Though  this  proportionate  loss 
may  not  exist  in  every  regiment  which  has  participated  in 
this  struggle,  yet  the  world  will  stand  aghast  at  the  figures, 
—  if  a  correct  computation  is  ever  made,  —  exhibiting  the 
amount  of  mortality  occasioned  by  this  cause  alone. 

The  outlines  of  prison  life  are  too  well  known  throughout 
21 


252  HISTORIC   RECORDS. 

the  country  to  warrant  us  in  giving  more  than  a  brief 
sketch  of  personal  experience,  by  men  of  the  regiment.  The 
author,  who,  with  hundreds  of  others,  sojourned  for  a  season 
in  the  famous  Libby  Prison,  rejoices  in  an  opportunity  of 
publishing  in  these  records,  a  few  letters,  which  set  forth 
what  he  saw,  what  he  did  and  what  he  endured  while 
among  the  Rebels. 

NEAR  STAUNTON,  Va.,  ") 
July  17th,  1863.  / 

My  Dear  P.  R. :  I  never  wrote  you  under  so  embarrassing 
and  peculiar  circumstances;  nor  do  I  know  that  my  letter 
will  ever  be  of  any  avail.  I  am  a  poor,  wretched  prisoner 
of  war !  Early  Sunday  morning,  the  5th  instant,  near 
Monterey  Gap,  Pa.,  during  Gen.  Kilpatrick's  raid  on  the 
Rebel  train,  retreating  from  Gettysburg,  I  was  surrounded 
by  the  enemy  and  captured.  Others  with  me  shared  the 
same  fate.  It  was  hard  to  say,  "  I  surrender."  It  was 
Jenkins'  cavalry  that  had  done  the  deed.  Being  a  chap 
lain  and  my  horse  my  own  and  not  the  government's,  it  was 
promised  me  that  as  soon  as  I  reached  Gen.  Stuart's  head 
quarters,  I  would  be  released  and  none  of  my  property 
would  be  molested.  True  as  the  chivalry  are  able  to  be  to 
their  promises,  on  reaching  the  general,  I  was  immediately 
released —  of  my  horse  and  of  all  hopes  of  liberty.  A  per 
sonal  interview  with  the  general  and  earnest  pleadings  were 
in  vain.  Gen.  S.  is  a  fine  looking  officer.  His  features  are 
distinct  in  outline,  his  nose  long  and  sharp,  his  eye  kceu 
and  restlessly  on  the  lookout.  His  complexion  is  florid. 
He  wears  a  gray  plush  hat  with  a  black  feather ;  has  plain 
uniform,  and  a  short  bowie  knife  by  his  side  with  ivory 
handle,  attached  to  his  person  by  a  golden  chain.  He  seems 
to  trust  no  man  to  do  what  he  can  possibly  do  himself.  But 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  253 

there  is  more  chivalry  in  the  exterior  than  in  the  interior,  I 
fear. 

Baffled  at  every  point,  dismounted  and  dispirited,  I  spent 
a  miserable  Sabbath,  I  assure  you,  traveling  nearly  all  day 
over  the  Catoctin  mountains  into  Maryland. 

Monday  evening,  the  6th,  after  a  dreary  day  of  marching 
and  fasting  —  for  our  rations  were  short  and  poor,  —  the 
column  had  halted  and  the  prisoners  sought  sleep  on  the 
soft  grass.  I  had  just  fallen  into  a  doze,  when  I  was 
roused  up  by  a  strange  voice,  calling  "  Chaplain  Fifth  New 
York  Cavalry."  Looking  up,  I  beheld  a  Rebel  lieutenant, 
with  whom  I  had  conversed  a  little  during  the  day,  who 
stepped  up  toward  me  with  a  cup  of  smoking  hot  coffee  and 
a  fine  piece  of  warm  bread.  "  There,  chaplain,  I  thought  you 
might  be  hungry,  and  brought  you  this  for  your  supper." 
I  was  quite  overcome  with  gratitude  at  an  act  so  unexpected 
and  so  rare,  and  my  heart  leapt  up  for  joy,  as  at  the  sight  of 
the  first  flower  of  spring.  That,  I  think,  was  a  noble  man, 
though  he  was  a  Rebel,  and  I  have  not  found  another 
among  them  like  him.  On  Wednesday,  the  8th,  we  were 
put  across  the  Potomac  at  Williamsport.  The  Rebel  army 
was  very  much  discouraged  and  demoralized.  The  officer 
of  the  guard  on  reaching  the  "Old  Virginy  Shore,"  flung 
his  sword  on  the  ground,  exclaiming  with  much  feeling, 
C{  Lie  there,  and  I  never  will  cross  this  river  again  on  an 
expedition  of  this  kind."  Many  Rebels  appeared  to  feel  as 
he  did. 

Near  Washington  Springs,  not  far  from  Winchester,  we 
spent  two  days  to  rest.  There  were  about  200  officers,  prison 
ers,  with  me,  and  about  4,000  privates.  While  at  the 
Springs  we  heard  of  the  fall  of  Yicksburg.  An  amusing 


254  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

and  interesting  incident  here  took  place.  A  little  slave 
mulatto  boy,  about  twelve  years  of  age,  was  asked  whom  he 
liked  best,  the  "  Rebs  "  or  the  "  Yanks  ?"  Scarcely  willing 
to  answer,  as  there  were  more  Rebels  around  him  than 
Yankees,  he  hung  his  head  down  a  little  while,  but 
finally  looking  up  with  his  large,  intelligent  eyes,  he  said, 
"The  Yanks."  All  joined  in  a  hearty  laugh  over  the  un 
expected  answer.  I  then  asked,  "  Why  do  you  like  the 
Yanks  best?"  "Because  they  don't  sell  me,"  was  the 
quick  and  emphatic  reply,  astonishing  us  all  at  his  wisdom 
and  understanding. 

At  Winchester  I  had  an  interview  with  Gen.  Iniboden. 
I  failed  to  obtain  relief,  but  obtained  a  storm  of  abusive 
words.  With  varied  experiences  I  have  come  up  this  valley, 
traveling  in  all,  since  my  capture,  about  200  miles,  on  an 
average  of  twenty  miles  per  day.  The  soles  of  my  feet  are  a 
complete  blister.  To-morrow  we  expect  to  take  the  cars  at 
Staunton  for  Richmond.  If  I  ever  get  a  chance,  I  will 
send  you  my  letter,  if  not,  I  will  try  to  preserve  it. 

Ever  yours, 
L.  N.  B.,  Chaplain  5th  N.  Y.  Cav. 

LIBBY  PRISON,  Richmond,  Va.,  1 
September  1st,  18G3.  J 

My  Dear  P.  R :  I  hope   you  have  received  my  former 

letter  which  I  sent  secretly  by ,who  was  more  fortunate 

than  the  most  of  us,  and  got  away  on  a  special  exchange. 
On  the  23d  ultimo,  I  received  two  of  your  letters.  Oh ! 
what  joy  they  were  to  me  in  my  prison  house.  Every  flag 
of  truce  boat  brings  and  carries  mail,  but  we  have  to  write 
only  one  page  for  a  letter,  and  it  has  to  be  read  in  the  office 
below,  before  it  can  pass.  Yours  meet  the  same  fate  before 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  255 

reaching  me.  You  say  you  are  very  anxious  to  know  how 
we  fare.  I  will  tell  you.  As  we  expected  when  I  wrote 
you,  we  reached  this  place  on  Saturday  evening,  the  18th 
July.  From  the  depot  we  were  marched  to  the  prison, 
which  stands  on  the  corner  of  20th  and  Gary  streets.  It  is 
a  large  brick  building,  about  135  feet  long  and  105  feet 
wide,  three  stories  high  on  Gary  street,  and  four  stories 
high  back  on  the  canal.  Next  to  the  street  is  a  row  of  cells 
under  ground.  On  the  corner  of  the  building  is  a  sign 
with  "Libby  &  Son,"  from  which  the  prison  takes  its  name. 
Two  heavy  walls  divide  the  building  into  three  nearly  equal 
parts  making  nine  large  rooms  above  ground.  By  means 
of  openings  or  doors  through  these  walls,  access  may  be 
had  from  one  room  to  the  other.  You  will  shudder  when 
I  tell  you  that  these  rooms  are  so  infested  with  vermin, 
that  you  cannot  escape  their  loathsome  presence.  The 
windows  around  us  are  mostly  barred,  though  some  are  not. 
So  much,  then,  for  the  place  where  we  live,  I  mean,  stay. 

I  will  now  give  you  some  specimens  of  the  men  who  rule 
over  us.  On  arriving  at  the  prison,  we  were  unceremoni 
ously  introduced  to  Dick  Turner,  who,  having  conducted  us 
into  the  reception  hall,  fell  to  pillaging  us.  I  was  quickly 
delivered  of  my  poncho,  haversack  and  canteen.  My 
money  was  not  taken,  for  what  little  I  had  was  Confed.; 
that  they  did  not  want.  Those  who  had  greenbacks  were 
soon  relieved  of  their  burden,  unless  their  treasure  was 
concealed.  While  this  work  was  going  on,  Turner  took  a 
piece  of  shell  from  a  lieutenant's  pocket,  which  he  was 
putting  in  his  own.  The  robbed  man  said,  "  I  did  not 
know  that  you  had  a  right  to  take  such  things."  "  No 
right?"  retorted  Dick  angrily,  and  at  the  same  time,  hit 


256  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

the  lieutenant  a  fearful  blow  with  his  hand  upon  the  face, 
nearly  knocking  him  down,  and  then  ordered  him  to  be 
put  into  a  cell. 

During  the  warm  summer  days,  the  prisoners  discovered 
a  scuttle  hole  through  the  roof,  through  which  we  could 
climb  by  means  of  a  ladder,  where,  in  the  cool  of  the  even 
ing,  we  could  spend  a  few  moments,  freed  from  the  stench 
and  heat  of  the  rooms  below,  and  have  an  opportunity  of 
looking  at  the  bright  sky  overhead.  Dick  Turner,  having 
learned  that  we  could  thus  obtain  a  few  inspirations  of  pure, 
fresh  air,  came  into  our  rooms  furiously  mad,  and  forbade 
our  going  on  the  roof  again.  They  sometimes  say  they 
starve  us  because  they  have  not  sufficient  bread,  but  why 
can't  they  give  us  air  ?  The  guards  who  patrol  about  the 
prison  and  live  in  tents  across  the  way,  are  generally  after 
the  same  pattern  of  Turner.  If  a  man  steps  near  the  win 
dow,  to  view  the  scene  beyond,  or  breathe  a  purer  atmos 
phere,  he  is  at  once  told  to  step  back,  or  is  fired  on.  These 
are  the  men  (if  it  be  proper  to  call  them  so),  at  whose  beck 
we  are  driven  to  and  fro,  and  on  whose  cruel  hands  we 
depend  for  our  daily  bread. 

I  will  now  tell  you  what  they  furnish  us  to  eat.  In  the 
morning  they  bring  us  about  twelve  ounces  of  bread  and 
three  ounces  of  boiled  beef.  At  night  they  bring  us  about 
a  pint  of  rice  soup,  in  such  pails,  and  of  such  sort,  that  to 
get  it  down  at  all,  we  must  do  so  without  either  seeing, 
smelling  or  tasting.  This  is  all  we  have  to  live  upon,  not 
enough  to  average  one  meal  per  day.  I  have  been  so  weak 
from  hunger,  as  to  be  compelled  to  lie  down  much  of  the  time, 
and  unable  to  rise,  without  a  painful  dizziness  in  my*  head. 

One  night  they  brought  our  soup  to    us    late.     It   was 


LIBBY  PRISON,  RICHMOND,  VA. 


INTERIOR  VIEW  OF  LIBBY  PRISON. 

Upper  and  Lower  Room.-  >  *,   ; 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  259 

dark  and  could  not  be  seen.  The  next  morning  wherever 
a  sediment  could  be  found  in  pails  or  cups,  big  maggots 
took  the  place  of  rice.  The  soup  was  made  of  old  bacon. 
Many  prisoners  were  sick  at  the  thought  of  what  they  had 
eaten. 

The  water  we  have  to  drink  is  from  James  river,  and  in 
consequence  of  recent  rains,  it  is  so  roily,  that  to  fill  a  cup 
and  let  it  stand  an  hour,  you  can  find  half  an  inch  of  mud 
on  the  bottom.  It  is  with  difficulty  we  can  use  it  at  all. 

After  we  had  been  in  prison  about  a  week,  they  brought 
in  stoves  and  wood,  gave  us  our  rations  raw,  bread  ex- 
cepted,  added  a  little  salt  and  vinegar,  and  we  did  our  own 
cooking.  Though  this  adds  much  to  the  heat  of  our  rooms, 
we  prefer  to  make  our  own  soup.  The  prisoners  are  divided 
into  messes,  each  using  the  stoves  by  turns.  A  table  has 
also  been  constructed,  with  benches  along  side,  which  ren 
der  our  meals  more  acceptable.  These  are  the  only  seats 
in  our  rooms,  except  in  one  room,  where  they  have  bunks, 
which  are  used  for  sitting  and  sleeping. 

About  the  last  of  July  an  arrangement  was  made,  where 
by  we  could  send  out  money  by  the  prison  authorities,  and 
purchase  such  groceries  as  we  chose.  Some  had  money, 
and  they  have  been  living  well.  For  one  dollar  green 
backs,  we  can  get  from  five  to  ten  dollars  Confed.  Capt. 
Hamlin  had  five  dollars  sent  him  from  home,  which  the 
authorities  detained,  and  for  which  they  gave  him  thirty- 
five  dollars  Confed.  At  this  rate  of  exchange,  the  enor 
mous  figures  attached  to  the  things  we  purchase,  are  not 
so  very  large  prices  after  all.  Piles  of  vegetables,  bread 
and  fruit,  are  brought  in  about  every  other  morning,  and 
it  is  estimated  that  the  GOO  officers  now  confined  in  Libby, 


260  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

expend  on  an  average  of  $650  Confed.  daily.  Tliis  is  a 
great  privilege  which  most  of  the  prisoners  enjoy.  How 
ever,  some  have  no  money,  and  are  compelled  to  live  on 
their  scanty  rations. 

Yours,  at  times  very  lonely, 

L.  N.  B.,  Chaplain  5th  N.  Y.  Cav. 

LIBBY  PRISON,  Richmond,  Va.,  > 
October  5tk,  1863.  / 

My  Dear  P.  R. :  In  my  last  I  gave  you  a  description  of 
our  fare,  I  will  now  tell  you  how  we  spend  our  time.  We 
are  generally  roused  in  the  morning  by  the  cry  of  black 
Ben: — "All  four  copies  of  de  morning  papers!  Great 
news  in  de  papers  !"  He  finds  a  ready  sale  for  his  insigni 
ficant  sheets,  which  are  as  free  of  literary  taste  as  they  are 
of  truth,  though  we  have  to  pay  twenty-five  cents  per  copy. 
Between  the  reading  of  these  and  the  performance  of  our 
toilet,  the  morning  hours  pass  away.  Then  comes  the  work 
in  bones,  bones  from  the  beef  supplied  us.  You  would 
wonder  to  see  the  crosses,  rings,  books,  boxes,  stars,  hearts 
&c.,  which  I  have  already  manufactured  with  an  old  jack- 
knife  and  a  little  file.  Some  of  the  prisoners  spend  all  their 
time  in  this  work.  In  fact,  bone  on  the  brain  is  a  disease 
almost  as  universal  as  that  other  which  prompts  to  "skir 
mishing/'  a  habit  the  prisoners  have  of  taking  off  their 
clothes  and  -picking  them.  This  is  done  to  keep  down  ani 
mal  life,  which,  here,  is  very  exuberant.  But  this  mere 
change  between  bone  cutting  and  "skirmishing,"  became  too 
monotonous,  and  some  of  us  have  organized  a  debating  society, 
which  is  known  as  "The  Libby  Lice-I-see-'em,"  (Lyceum). 
In  this  body  grave  questions  are  discussed,  besides  those 
that  are  not  so  grave,  and  many  moments  are  whiled  away 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  261 

pleasantly.  The  subject  of  Mesmerism  attracted  very  able 
debaters,  who  entertained  us  several  days  with  instructive 
speeches  and  some  amusing  experiments.  From  these 
debates  sprang  the  idea  of  mock  trials  and  lectures,  which 
have  displayed  no  little  amount  of  humor,  wit  and  literary 
ability. 

The  debating  club  have  also  organized  a  newspaper  asso 
ciation,  and  have  appointed  me  editor-in-chief  of  the 
weekly  Libfy  Chronicle.1  This  is  now  the  great  focus  of 
attraction.  Friday  morning  of  each  week  at  ten  o'clock,  if 
you  could  peep  into  the  east  room,  upper  floor,  you  would  see 
it  filled  with  an  attentive  audience,  while  the  columns  of  the 
Chronicle  are  being  read,  of  course,  from  manuscript. 

To  aid  in  the  quickening  of  our  intellectual  life,  a  few 
days  ago,  an  opportunity  was  offered  for  purchasing  books 
from  the  city,  and  immediately  Libby  Prison  was  converted 
into  one  of  the  highest  literary  institutions  of  the  south. 
You  will  hardly  believe  me,  when  I  tell  you  that  we  have 
classes  in  arithmetic,  algebra  and  geometry,  in  philosophy, 
history,  theology  and  medicine,  while  the  languages,  Greek, 
Latin,  German,  Italian,  Spanish  and  French,  are  each  stu 
died  with  peculiar  delight.  My  French  class  alone  numbers 
about  one  hundred  members.  And  last,  but  not  least,  comes 
the  class  in  phonography,  which  can  boast  of  nearly  two 
hundred.  In  this  we  have  no  books.  But  by  means  of  a 
poncho,  thrown  over  a  shelf,  a  narrow  blackboard  is  made, 
on  which,  with  a  piece  of  chalk,  I  delineate  the  mysterious 
characters,  which  the  prisoners  readily  learn.  Already 
articles  for  the  Chronicle  have  been  received,  in  phonographic 
characters. 


1See  Appendix. 


262  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

You  see  that  many  of  us  are  very  busy,  especially  when 
you  add  to  the  above  studies  and  occupations,  the  hours 
spent  in  singing  and  in  religious  worship.  From  two  to 
four  sermons  are  preached  per  week,  alternating  between  the 
nine  chaplains  who  are  prisoners  here.  Every  evening  an 
hour  is  devoted  to  a  meeting  for  social  worship  in  which 
many  take  a  lively  interest.  These  interesting  seasons  are 
often  followed  by  a  reunion  for  singing,  during  which  the 
prison  walls  are  made  to  echo  with  our.  best  patriotic  airs, 
sung  with  a  zest  seldom  known  elsewhere.  Chaplain 
McCabe,  one  of  the  most  impressive  singers  I  ever  heard, 
generally  takes  the  lead.  I  have  often  wondered,  that  the 
authorities  did  not  veto  this  privilege,  as  the  guards  around 
the  prison  are  often  heard  to  curse  and  hiss  with  madness, 
at  the  sentiments  of  our  songs. 

Having  thus  spent  the  day  and  evening,  we  seek  rest 
upon  the  hard  floor,  along  which  the  prisoners  lie,  close- 
packed,  like  sardines  in  a  can.  To  the  hard  floor  and  the 
"  pesky  varmints"  many  sleepless  hours  are  devoted,  which, 
however,  are  frequently  beguiled  by  the  cracking  of  jokes, 
and  the  calling  up,  by  means  of  catechetical  questioning 
and  answering,  all  the  humorous  scenes  and  incidents  of 
the  day.  Sleep  at  last  comes  with  dreams  of  home  and  bet 
ter  days;  but'we  awake  again  to  the  reality  of  prison  life. 

Yesterday  —  which  was  Sunday  —  I  was  permitted  to  visit 
Pemberton  Castle,  across  the  way  from  Libby,  where  I 
preached  to  about  1,800  of  our  brave  boys,  who  were  cap 
tured  at  Chickamauga,  and  whose  officers  are  in  Libby. 
I  found  these  men  in  the  most  wretched  condition.  On 
being  brought  here  they  were  stripped  of  overcoats,  blank 
ets,  ponchoes,  haversacks  and  canteens.  Their  rooms  are 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  263 

filthy  and  full  of  vermin,  even  worse  than  Libby.  The 
stench  from  the  rear,  unchecked  by  any  doors,  floods  the 
rooms  with  a  nausea  the  most  sickening  and  deadly.  These 
poor,  half-naked  men,  spend  their  nights  walking  to  and  fro 
in  the  rooms,  unable  to  sleep  from  the  cold,  which,  at  this 
season  of  the  year,  is  quite  intense.  Their  rations  are  less 
than  those  given  to  the  officers  in  Libby.  During  my  stay 
in  the  Castle  I  found  nearly  200  men,  so  sick,  that  they 
were  not  able  to  raise  their  heads  from  the  dirty  floor, 
where  they  lay  without  blankets,  nor  even  a  stick  of  wood 
for  a  pillow.  I  was  so  much  affected  on  seeing  them  aa 
almost  to  incapacitate  me  to  preach  to  them.  At  the  close 
of  the  services  they  brought  me  a  package  of  about  175 
letters  for  their  friends,  which  the  authorities  refused  to 
transmit  for  them,  and  which  I  promised  to  send  —  a  few 
at  a  time  —  through  the  channel  open  to  the  officers.  I 
enjoyed  the  walk  to  and  from  the  Castle,  and  rejoiced  on 
reaching  my  room  in  Libby,  that  my  condition  was  so  de 
sirable,  compared  to  that  of  others. 

There  are  some  rumors  that  the  chaplains  are  soon  to  be 
unconditionally  released.     It  may  be  so. 

Yours  hopefully, 
L.  N.  B.,  Chaplain  5th  N.  Y.  Cav. 


On  Board  Flag-of-Truce  Boat,  New  York, 
In  the  James,  off  City  Point, 
October 


ew  York,  "| 
oint,  Va.,  V 

7M,1863.  J 


My  Dear  P.  R. :  1  am  free !  This  morning  about  three 
o'clock,  the  sergeant  of  the  prison  guard,  entering  my  room 
with  a  candle  in  his  hand,  cried  out,  "  Are  there  chaplains 
in  this  room?"  I  quickly  answered  in  the  affirmative. 
"  Pack  up,  and  come  down."  was  quickly  said  in  his  usual- 
22 


264  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

ly  gruff  way.  Such  packing  up !  it  took  not  many  moments. 
I  hastily  stuffed  the  files  of  the  Lilly  Chronicle  in  my 
boot  legs,  carefully  secured  in  my  coat  pocket  123  letters 
from  the  prisoners  of  Pemberton  Castle  and  of  Libby, 
which  were  brought  me  as  soou  as  it  was  known  I  was 
going,  put  my  Spanish  grammar  under  my  arm,  hid  my 
treasures  of  worked  "  bones  "  in  my  pants  pockets,  and  drew 
around  me,  over  all,  a  shawl  which  they  had  not  purloined 
from  me.  There  were  fears  that  we  would  be  searched  as  we 
had  been  upon  entering  Libby.  Those  of  my  friends,  who 
knew  how  many  documents  and  letters  I  had  on  my  person, 
sought  to  have  me  leave  them,  as  their  discovery  by  the 
authorities  would  cost  me  prolonged  imprisonment,  and, 
doubtless,  too,  in  a  dingy  cell.  But  I  had  promised  our 
poor  fellows  in  the  Castle  that  I  would  care  for  their  letters, 
and  was  bound  to  do  so  at  any  cost,  nor  was  I  willing  to 
leave  behind  me  the  pages  to  which  I  had  devoted  so  many 
hours  of  careful  study.  I  ran  a  fearful  risk.  We  were 
not  searched,  and  the  precious  relics  are  mine.  The  letters 
I  will  seal,  put  stamps  on  them,  and  mail  them  on  reaching 
Washington.  A  little  before  daybreak  we  bade  good  bye 
to  our  friends  and  fellow-sufferers,  sad  to  leave  them  there, 
and  turned  our  backs  on  Libby.  On  passing  to  the  street, 
the  guard  were  crying  out,  as  was  their  custom  at  stated 
periods  of  the  night,  "  Post  No.  1,  all's  well,"  "  Post  No. 
2,  all's  well,"  &c.  It  was  the  first  time  we  had  seen  the 
"all's  well"  in  the  light  it  then  appeared. 

Only  eight  of  us  were  released,  Chaplains  Jos.  T.  Brown, 
6th  Md.  Vols.;  E.  C.  Ambler,  67th  Pa.  Vols.;  D.  C.  Eber- 
hart,  87th  Pa.  Vols.;  James  Harvey,  110th  Chio  Vols.; 
E.  W.  Brady,  116th  Ohio  Vols;  Geo.  H.  Hammer,  12th 


FIFTH  XE\V  YORK  CAVALRY  265 

Pa.  Cavalry;  0.  Taylor,  5th  Mich.  Cavalry,  and  myself. 
Chaplain  C.  C.  McCabe,  122d  Ohio  Vols.,  was  compelled 
to  remain,  sick  in  the  hospital.  Before  sunrise  we  left  the 
Rebel  capital  for  Petersburg,  where  we  changed  cars  for 
City  Point,  and  at  twelve  M.,  for  the  first  time,  after  many 
long  days  of  waiting,  we  beheld  our  glorious  starry  flag, 
floating  at  mast  head  on  the  flag-of-truce  steamer.  A  few 
moments  more  and  we  were  beneath  its  protecting  folds 
and  among  our  friends.  Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise 
of  Major  Mulford,  agent  of  exchange,  on  board  the  New 
York,  who  sought  by  every  means  in  his  power  to  make 
us  comfortable  and  happy.  The  rest  of  the  story  I  will 
tell  you  when  I  come,  as  I  expect  a  leave  of  absence  on 
arriving  at  Washington. 

Yours,  for  Home  and  the  Flag, 

L.  N.  B.,  Chaplain  5th  N.  Y.  Cav. 

The  following  account  of  prison  experience  will  be  found 
full  of  interest : 

I  was  captured  in  the  fight  at  Cedar  creek,  the  12th  JNo- 
vember,  1864,  by  the  4th  Virginia  Cavalry.  They  took  my 
horse  equipments,  pocket  book,  knife,  trinkets,  boots  and 
spurs,  and  marched  me  off  with  about  150  other  prisoners 
from  our  division,  to  Rosser's  headquarters  near  New  Mar 
ket,  where  was  served  out  to  us  a  pint  of  flour  each,  all  we 
got  for  thirty-six  hours.  Here  we  were  stripped  and 
searched.  When  remonstrance  was  made,  they  said  they 
were  looking  for  commissions.  Our  good  clothes  were  taken 
from  us  and  we  were  obliged  to  take  their  filthy  rags.  On 
the  15th  we  were  sent  from  New  Market  to  Staunton,  a 
distance  of  forty-three  miles,  where  we  arrived  the  17th, 


266  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

almost  naked,  having  been  robbed  and  plundered  the  whole 
of  the  way,  even  to  the  cutting  off  of  our  buttons.  Here 
we  were  served  with  rations,  four  crackers  and  one  quarter 
pound  of  beef  to  each  man,  and  closely  confined  in  a  strong 
log  guard  house.  The  21st  we  were  put  on  a  freight  train 
and  sent  to  Richmond,  being  eighteen  hours  on  the  cars. 
Here  we  were  confined  in  Libby  Prison  one  night.  Next 
morning  we  were  stripped  and  searched  again,  meanwhile 
receiving  the  greatest  abuse.  After  the  search  we  were 
placed  in  Pemberton  Castle.  We  suffered  very  much  for 
want  of  food  and  clothes,  it  being  piercing  cold. 

December  3r/.  Served  out  two  days'  rations,  consisting 
of  one  small  loaf  of  bread  and  one  fifth  of  a  cod-fish.  Next 
day  we  were  crowded  in  freight  cars  and  sent  to  Danville, 
where  we  arrived  at  eight  o'clock  p.  M.,  and  were  confined 
in  the  cars  all  night,  without  being  able  to  get  a  drink  of 
water;  and  some  of  the  men  were  in  the  greatest  filth. 

December  btli.  Changed  cars.  A  few  others  and  myself 
were  put  in  a  car  with  fifty  embalmed  bodies.  Changed 
cars  again  at  Greensboro',  and,  at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  were 
put  on  a  freight  train,  with  one  hundred  men  in  each  car, 
and  so  closely  packed  that  it  was  not  possible  to  sit  down. 
Two  men  died  in  the  night  from  suffocation.  At  three 
A.  M.  next  day  we  arrived  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  and  mr\de  a 
stand  in  the  road,  mud  ankle  deep,  until  nine  o'clock,  when 
we  were  marched  to  prison.  It  was  once  a  cotton  mill,  sur 
rounded  by  a  high  fence,  strongly  guarded,  and  commanded 
by  three  twelve  pounders.  It  is  a  hard  place.  Being  the 
last  batch,  we  have  no  tents  nor  any  kind  of  shelter  yet,  and 
from  sixty  to  eighty  dying  every  day  from  actual  starvation. 

December  7th.  It  rained  and  froze  hard  last  night,  and  poor, 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  267 

half-naked  men  are  in  a  miserable  plight.  It  is  heart 
rending  to  see  some  of  them,  with  their  famished  looks  and 
mere  skeleton  forms. 

December  8th.  The  guard  (68th  N.  0.  regiment)  received 
orders  to  fire  on  any  of  us  seen  walking  about  the  yard,  or 
going  to  the  rear  after  sundown.  That  night  they  killed 
two  men  and  wounded  another.  In  the  morning  they  shot 
a  man  in  a  tent  asleep.  I  reported  the  sentry  to  Major 
Gee,  in  command.  He  questioned  the  sentry  about  it, 
whos<3  excuse  was.  that  he  had  three  niggers  in  line  and 
never  expected  such  a  shot  again,  but  he  happened  to  miss 
them  and  killed  this  man.  He  was  praised  for  the  act  and 
received  a  forty  days'  furlough. 

December  10/A.  We  feel  the  cold  very  much.  The  ground 
is  covered  with  snow.  Men  are  to  be  seen  almost  frozen 
to  death  —  hands  and  feet  frozen,  in  several  cases  —  in 
every  direction.  A  great  many  died  during  the  night  from 
exposure  and  want  of  food.  We  have  been  kept  seventy- 
five  hours  without  rations,  and  in  the  meantime  the  Rebels 
tried  to  persuade  us  to  enlist,  by  offering  a  bounty  of  fifty 
dollars,  one  loaf  of  bread,  and  a  canteen  of  whiskey  —  "  the 
largest  bounty,"  they  said,  "  ever  offered  in  the  Confede 
racy."  They  got  some  recruits  —  men  who  were  afraid  of 
starving  to  death,  and  enlisted  to  save  their  lives. 

December  IQth.  Several  escaped,  myself  in  the  number.  I 
got  within  twenty  miles  of  our  lines,  was  recaptured,  and 
brought  back  to  prison  again.  We  are  tunneling,  and  ex 
pect  soon  to  make  another  break. 

January  4f/i.  Eighty-six  men  in  the  dead  house,  who 
died  during  the  night.  Thirty  of  my  men*  died  since  I 

1  He  had  charge  of  a  division  of  one  thousand  men. 


268  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

came  here.  Four  companies  of  Yanks  that  were  enlisted 
here,  from,  time  to  time,  and  fully  equipped,  in  Florence, 
killed  their  Kebel  officers,  hung  their  Sergeant  Major  for 
interfering,  seized  four  pieces  of  artillery,  and  effected  their 
escape  to  Gen.  Sherman's  lines. 

January  9/7t.  Quarter  rations,  consisting  of  meal,  made 
from  corn  and  corn-cobs  ground  together,  and  baked  into 
bread. 

January  12th.  I  have  several  men  without  any  kind  of 
shelter.  A  great  many  have  dug  holes  in  the  ground  to 
live  in,  working  at  them  with  a  part  of  a  canteen,  a  nail,  or 
piece  of  iron,  or  any  thing  they  can  get,  not  being  allowed 
any  tools.  Thirty-nine  men  died  last  night.  The  commis 
sary  has  nothing  to  issue  to  the  prisoners,  no  food  of  any 
kind.  There  is  plenty  outside  the  prison,  but  not  for  us. 

January  18th.  Three  table-spoonfuls  of  molasses  issued 
to  each  man,  and  one  quart  of  vinegar  to  every  hundred 
men. 

January  20th.  One  of  my  men  dropped  dead  while  trying 
to  eat  some  soup,  made  of  rice  and  water.  Another  tunnel 
is  finished.  Ten  of  us  escape  from  prison,  are  seen  and 
fired  on  by  the  guard.  Three  men,  with  myself,  got  as  far 
as  Morgantown,  a  distance  of  eighty-four  miles,  when  we 
were  recaptured  and  brought  back  to  prison  again. 

January  28th.  A  man,  sent  out  to  the  dead  house  for 
dead,  comes  to  life  in  the  dead  cart  on  his  way  to  be  buried, 
and  is  brought  back  to  the  hospital,  where  he  recovers. 

January  30<7i.  The  Ilebs  are  trying  to  get  more  recruits. 
Last  night  a  man  was  robbed  of  seventy  dollars  in  green 
backs  and  three  hundred  in  Confed.  that  he  was  fortunate 
enough  to  secure,  in  hopes  of  sometime  making  his  escape. 


FIFTH  NEW  YOKE  CAVALRY.  269 

February  3d.  Two  men  only  allowed  to  go  once  a  day  to 
bring  the  allowance  of  wood  for  each  hundred  men. 

February  5th.  Sixty-five  men  escaped  over  the  fences  last 
night.  It  is  thought  the  guard  assisted  them,  as  some  of 
them  also  are  missing. 

February  Sth.  There  have  been,  up  to  this  date,  five  thou 
sand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  deaths  in  this  prison,  out 
of  nine  thousand,  in  less  than  three  months. 

February  Ilth.  Men  suffering  very  much  from  scurvy. 
The  small-pox  has  also  broken  out.  Got  one  quart  of  vine 
gar  to  each  hundred  men  to-day. 

February  14th.  Capt.  Porter,  13th  Mass.,  Maj.  Howard, 
4th  N.  Y.  Mounted  Rifles,  and  a  Capt.  of  the  146th  N.  Y. 
S.  Vols.,  whose  name  I  don't  remember,  commenced  issuing 
a  few  blankets  the  government  sent  us  last  November,  but 
were  kept  in  Richmond,  until  the  cold  is  nearly  over,  by 
the  Rebel  authorities  there. 

February  18th.  Three  hundred  prisoners  came  here  from 
Andersonville  and  Charlotte.  Pants,  blouses  and  shirts 
were  issued  by  the  above-named  officers,  one  hundred  of 
each  to  a  division,  consisting  of  one  thousand  men. 

February  20th.  I  am  making  out  rolls  of  the  men  able 
to  bear  a  journey.  We  are  going  to  to  be  paroled  when 
these  rolls  are  finished. 

February  22d.  Sending  sick  to  Richmond.  The  rest 
were  fallen  in  on  the  square ;  a  parole  was  read  to  us  and  about 
noon  we  left  the  prison,  marched  to  South  Atkin,  six  miles 
from  Salisbury,  and  camped  for  the  night. 

February  23rf.  Marched  out  early.  Passing  through 
Lexington  a  lady  gave  me  a  gingerbread  cake  that  was  most 
acceptable.  Four  miles  beyond  the  town  we  camped. 


270  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

February  24th.  Marched  along  the  railroad.  A  great 
many  men  gave  out,  not  being  able  to  stand  the  march.  We 
passed  through  Thornasville,  then  on  to  High  Point, 
•where  we  camped  for  the  night. 

February  26th.  Having  reached  Greensboro'  we  were 
put  on  the  cars  and  sent  to  Goldsboro'  by  way  of  Ila- 
leigh,  where  we  had  to  wait  until  parole  papers  were  made 
out.  I  had  to  pay  forty  dollars  (Coufed.)  for  my  dinner 
there  on  the  27th.  Parole  papers  made  out,  we  were  put 
on  board  cars  for  Wilmington,  where  we  arrived  safely. 
The  moment  we  beheld  the  Old  Glory,  three  enthusiastic 
cheers  burst  from  one  and  all.  It  was  gladdening  to  think 
we  were  under  its  protection  once  more.  The  dear  old 
flag,  may  it  never  lose  a  star  ! 

On  getting  into  town,  the  U.  S.  Sanitary  Commission  did 
everything  they  could  to  alleviate  our  suffering. 

March  1st.  I  drank  my  first  cup  of  coffee  since  my  im 
prisonment.  It  is  reported,  that  when  Gen.  Schofield, 
commanding  department,  saw  our  wretched  condition  from 
starvation,  he  gave  orders  to  put  the  prisoners  he  took  on 
capturing  Wilmington,  on  quarter  rations,  and  reduce  them 
to  skin  and  bones. 

March  3d.     Left  Wilmington  on  the  Escort. 

March  5th.  Crossed  the  Bar  and  embarked  on  the  Her 
man  Livingston  for  Annapolis,  Md.,  via  Fortress  Monroe. 

March  10th.  Disembarked  at  our  destination,  received 
compensation  money,  &c.,  &c.,  and  got  things  comfortable 
once  more.  (Extracts  from  the  Diary  of  John  Evans,  Esq., 
of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry). 

Chaplain :  You  can  never  know  how  much  we  have  suf 
fered.  Tongue  cannot  tell  nor  pen  describe  the  suffering  and 


FIFTII  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  271 

misery  endured  by  our  soldiers  at  Andersonville,  Ga., 
where  I  was  confined.  You  would  not  believe  it,  if  it  were 
told.  I  would  not,  had  I  not  been  there.  But  God  has 
been  good  to  me  in  sparing  my  life.  (Extract  from  a  letter 
of  William  P.  Smith,  company  C,  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry, 
dated  Parole  Hospital,  Yicksburg,  Miss.,  April  12,  1865). 


The  following  list  of  the  men  of  the  regiment,  who 
died  in  Rebel  prisons,  has  heen  prepared  with  much 
care,  and  must  prove  intensely  interesting  to  their  friends 
and  surviving  comrades.  These  important  data  were  mostly 
secured  from  men,  who  had  returned  to  us,  and  who  had 
watched  their  less  fortunate  fellow-sufferers,  as  mind  and 
body  gave  away  under  the  sufferings  and  destitution  of 
their  wretched  imprisonment. 

Some  information  was  also  obtained  from  official  docu 
ments  from  the  War  Department,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


272 


HISTORIC  EECORDS. 


il 


.    .    .    .  T  <r*    •  ^  "T  T  ^  **?•  "f  **r    •' 

.     .     .     .  ?C  O     ,^6ci^^r^i:^C'^r 

.     .     .     .  00  X        OD  OD  OD  CD  GD  QD  OD        ' 


2"5  §"     :  :  :=  :isg'    J?^B.5    -^go"    ^^ 


Illlgfl  p|; 


§3- , ,  ij si  s 

?±       |±*      "  E±f  * 

K£         fe£        .    fe£ 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


273 


274 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


275 


ard  f 


rrg    -:±:i  -3±3 

XX      'XX      'XXX 


c  f 


-  - 


'        ' 


^   zlioslii  ;s 


lilL 

«    on     2  *  S 

•5   *    .2*5 

•a    *     ^'•-25 

•S  |J  b|5 

^  «?_JM 

S   3    333 

--c:     oo  i    cc  x  ai 


'    '•-^r   '-r   '~>^''> 

^    2  K§  t»K-^g5| 


III 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Our  Scout.  —  With  Gen.  Stall  el.  —  Guides  Cavalry  Corps  from  Fair 
fax  C.  H.  to  Frederick  City,  Md.,  June,  1863.— Ordered  to  Watch 
Movements  of  Rebel  Army,  Marching  on  its  Grand  Invasion  of 
Pennsylvania.  —  In  Disguise  he  Visits  Rebel  Gen.  Stuart.  — 
Captures  Rebel  Army  Mail,  with  Important  Dispatches,  at 
Hngerstown,  Md. — Carries  Dispatches  from  Gen.  Grant  to 
President  Lincoln,  during  Battle  of  the  Wilderness.  —  Among 
the  Rebels  near  Weldon  &  Petersburg  R.R.  —  Hard  Tramp^ 
through  Woods  and  Swamps.  — The  Colored  Guide. — Gladly 
Reaches  our  Lines  Again. 

At  the  time  of  the  Rebel  invasion  of  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania,  in  1863,  I  was  chief  scout  of  Gen.  Stahel, 
commanding  division  of  cavalry  in  Defenses  of  Washington. 
June  24,  1863,  I  guided  the  cavalry  from  Fairfax  Court 
House  on  its  way  into  Maryland.  We  forded  the  Potomac 
at  Young's  Island,  two  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Goose 
creek,  and  marched  to  Frederick  City.  I  put  up  at  the 
Dill  Hotel,  the  headquarters  of  the  general.  At  eleven  p. 
M.  the  general  sent  forme.  Obeying  the  summons,  I  found 
him  with  Major  Kcphart,  Captains  Kidd  and  Chauncey,  of 
his  staff,  engaged  in  drawing  sketches  and  routes  of  the 
enemy  from  a  large  map,  spread  out  before  them.  Rising 
from  his  seat  the  general  bade  me  a  pleasant  "  good  eve 
ning/'  and  added  : 

"  Sergeant,   I  have  a  very  hard  trip  for  you.     If  you 


FIFTII  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  277 

think  it  can  be  accomplished,  I  wish  you  to  commence  it 
to-night,  for,  if  it  is  to  be  done  at  all,  now  is  the  time/' 

"  Well,  general,"  I  replied,  saluting  him,  "  I  am  ready  to 
do  all  in  my  power  to  help  the  cause,  and  if  we  are  to 
commence  the  work  to-night,  the  sooner  we  get  to  business 
the  better." 

He  then  directed  uie  to  repair  to  the  Potomac  near 
Williamsport,  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  to 
ascertain  his  strength  and  the  routes  taken  by  the  different 
columns,  &c.,  and  to  communicate  all  serviceable  informa 
tion  to  himself,  or  to  Gen.  Meade,  who  had  just  assumed 
command.  I  was  to  take  as  many  men  as  I  needed,  to 
mount  them  on  horses  secured  by  his  order,  to  take  such 
routes  as,  in  my  own  judgment,  were  best,  and  to  return  only 
when  I  thought  the  interest  of  the  service  so  required,  or  I 
should  receive  further  orders  from  him. 

My  horse  was  soon  ready,  and,  after  receiving  the  gene 
ral's  order  for  ten  picked  men  out  of  Col.  Price's  brigade,  I 
bade  him  good  bye,  and  set  out  to  Middletown,  near  which 
Col.  Price  was  then  encamped.  It  was  ten  A.  M.  when  I 
presented  my  order  to  the  colonel,  with  the  request  that  the 
men  should  be  taken  from  the  1st  Michigan  Cavalry,  each  of 
ten  companies  to  furnish  its  bravest  and  best  man.  These 
gallant  troopers  were  soon  ready,  and,  having  reported  to 
me  in  due  style,  we  began  our  toilsome  march  over  the 
South  Mountain  for  Boonsboro',  which  we  reached  at  four 
A.  M.  next  day. 

Here  we  learned  that  the  Rebels  were  crossing  the  river 
at  two  points,  Falling  Waters  and  Williamsport,  but  their 
advance  had  not  yet  entered  the  town.  We  spent  the  day 
riding  up  and  down  the  river  on  different  roads,  watching 


278  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

their  movements.  At  night  I  left  my  men  at  the  United 
States  Hotel,  kept  by  a  good  Union  man  named  Smith,  and 
started  for  Hagerstown.  I  soon  found  that  the  main  body 
of  their  army  was  moving  towards  Chambersburg,  Pa. 
Having  spent  the  night  in  the  vicinity,  I  returned  early 
next  morning,  and  dispatched  a  messenger  to  the  general 
with  what  information  we  had  obtained. 

These  proceedings  occupied  our  time  until  Saturday  night 
of  that  week,  when  Gen.  Stuart,  commanding  Rebel  cavalry, 
came  into  Hagerstown. 

I  was  very  anxious  to  learn  all  about  his  force,  and  the 
movements  contemplated,  and  resolved  upon  a  plan  to  see  the 
general  himself,  or  some  of  his  staff. 

Of  a  Union  man  I  procured  a  suit  of  raglings,  knocked 
off  one  boot  heel  to  make  one  leg  shorter  than  its  mate,  and 
put  a  gimblet,  a  tow  string  and  an  old  broken  jack-knife  in 
my  pockets.  My  jewelry  corresponded  with  my  clothes.  I 
adopted  the  name  of  George  Fry,  a  harvest  hand  of  Dr. 
Farney's,  from  Wolftown,  on  the  north  side  of  the  mountain, 
and  I  was  a  cripple  from  rheumatism.  Having  completed 
arrangements  with  Dr.  Farney,  Mr.  Landers  and  other  Union 
men,  that  they  might  be  of  service  to  me  in  case  the  Rebels 
were  suspicious  of  my  character,  I  hobbled  away  on  my 
perilous  journey,  and  entered  the  city,  by  leaping  the  high 
stone  wall  which  guards  it  on  the  north  side,  near  the 
depot,  just  as  the  town  clock  struck  one. 

It  was  a  clear  starlight  night,  and  the  glistening  bayo 
nets  of  the  sentries  could  be  seen  as  they  walked  their 
lonely  beat.  Scarcely  had  I  gained  the  sidewalk,  leading 
to  the  centre  of  the  town,  when  the  sentry  cried,  "Halt! 
who  goes  there?"  "A  friend,"  I  replied.  "A  friend  to 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  279 

north  or  south?"  "To  south,  of  course,  and  all  right." 
"  Advance  then,"  was  the  response.  I  told  him  I  had  come 
in  to  see  our  brave  boys,  who  could  whip  the  Yankees  so 
handsomely,  &c.,  and  we  fell  to  discussing  the  war  ques 
tions  of  the  day.  In  the  midst  of  our  colloquy,  up  came 
the  officer  of  the  guard,  who,  after  asking  me  a  few  ques 
tions,  said :  "  Had  you  not  better  go  with  me  to  see  Gen. 
Stuart?"  "I  should  reelly  like  ter  git  a  sight  of  the  gini- 
ral,"  I  quickly  replied,  "  for  I  never  seen  a  reel  giniral  in  all 
my  life."  I  was  soon  in  the  presence  of  the  general,  who 
received  me  very  cordially.  I  told  him  who  I  was  and 
where  I  lived  when  at  home.  ':  Wolftown  ?"  remarked  the 
general,  ';  have  not  the  Yankees  a  large  wagon  train  there?" 
I  told  him  they  had,  and,  turning  to  one  of  his  staff,  he  said, 
"  I  must  have  it,  it  would  be  a  fine  prize."  I  noted  his 
words,  and  I  determined,  if  I  possessed  any  Yankee  wit,  to 
make  use  of  it  on  this  occasion.  "  Giniral,"  said  I,  "you  all 
don't  think  of  capterin'  them  are  Yankee  wagons,  do  you?" 
"  Why  not  ?  I  have  here  5,000  cavalry  and  sixteen  pieces  of 
artillery,  and  I  understand  the  train  is  lightly  guarded." 

I  told  him  they  came  there  that  afternoon,  with  twelve 
big  brass  cannon  and  three  regiments  of  foot  soldiers,  and 
if  he  was  to  try  to  go  through  the  gap  in  the  mountain, 
they  would  shoot  all  the  cannon  off  right  in  the  gap,  and 
kill  all  of  his  men  and  horses.  The  general  laughed,  and 
said  I  had  a  strange  idea  of  war,  if  I  thought  so  many  men 
would  be  killed  at  once,  and  added,  that  I  would  not  be  a 
very  brave  soldier.  I  replied,  that  many  times  I  had  felt 
like  going  into  the  Confederate  army,  but  my  rheumatism 
kept  me  out. 

After  a  while  the  general  concluded  not  to  try  the  train, 


280  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

and  I  was  heartily  glad,  for  he  would  have  taken  2,000 
wagons  easily,  as  they  were  guarded  by  not  more  than  three 
hundred  men. 

He  then  gave  orders  to  have  the  main  body  of  his  cav 
alry  move  toward  Green  Castle,  and  I  distinctly  heard  him 
give  orders  to  the  major  to  stay  in  town  with  fifty  men  as 
rear  guard,  and  to  send  on  the  army  mail,  which  was  ex 
pected  there  about  six  the  next  evening.  I  made  up  my 
mind  that  it  would  be  a  small  mail  he  would  get,  as  I  pro 
posed  to  myself  to  be  postmaster  for  once. 

After  seeing  the  general  and  his  cavalry  move  out  of 
town,  I  went  directly  for  my  horse,  which  I  had  concealed 
in  a  safe  place  some  distance  from  the  city,  and  surveyed 
the  ground  to  see  which  way  I  could  best  come  in  to  cap 
ture  the  mail,  and  determined  to  charge  the  place  on  the 
pike  from  Boonsboro'  and  made  my  arrangements  to  that 
effect.  I  got  a  Union  man  by  the  name  of  Thornburgh  to 
go  into  the  town  arid  notify  the  Union  people,  that  when 
the  town  clock  struck  six  p.  M.  I  would  charge  in  and  cap 
ture  the  Rebel  mail,  at  the  risk  of  losing  my  own  life  and 
every  man  with  me.  I  had  now  but  eight  men,  two  hav 
ing  been  sent  to  the  general  with  dispatches. 

I  then  returned  to  Boonsboro',  and  found  my  men  waiting 
for  me.  I  told  them  my  intentions,  and  offered  to  send 
back  to  his  regiment  any  man  who  feared  to  go  with  me. 
But  every  one  bravely  said  he  would  not  leave  me,  nor 
surrender  without  my  order.  I  ordered  them  to  bring 
their  horses,  and  we  were  soon  on  the  road.  It  was  a 
moment  of  thrilling  interest  to  us  all,  as  we  approached 
Hagerstown,  and  lingered  to  hear  the  signal  strokes  of  that 
monitor,  in  the  old  church  tower.  At  the  appointed  time 


OUR  SCOUT, 

With.  his  brave  men,  approaching  Hagerstown. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  283 

(we  had  entered  the  edge  of  the  town),  with  a  wild  shout 
we  dashed  into  the  street,  and  the  major  and  his  fifty  braves 
fled  without  firing  a  shot.  We  captured  sixteen  prisoners, 
twenty-six  horses,  several  small  arms,  and  a  heavy  army 
mail,  which  contained  three  dispatches  from  Jeff.  Davis, 
and  two  from  the  Rebel  secretary  of  war,  to  Gen.  Lee. 
All  this  substantial  booty  we  safely  carried  within  our  lines, 
without  the  loss  of  a  man  or  a  horse. 

Many  thanks  are  due  to  Dr.  C.  R.  Doran,  and  to  Robert 
Thornburgh,  for  their  kind  and  timely  assistance,  and  also 
to  Misses  Susie  Carson  and  Addie  Brenner,  who  did  so 
much  for  the  comfort  of  our  brave  men.  I  still  have  in  my 
possession  some  choice  flowers,  preserved  from  a  bouquet, 
presented  me  by  Miss  Carson  the  evening  we  captured  the 
Rebel  mail ;  and  though  the  flowers  have  faded,  me  c:ood 
deeds  done  by  the  giver  will  ever  grow  bright  through 
coming  time.  All  honor  to  the  brave  Union  ladies. 

/Saturday,  Muy  1th,  1864.  I  left  Gen.  Grant's  headquar 
ters,  accompanied  by  G.  M.  Cline,  Gen.  Meade's  chief  of 
scouts,  with  important  dispatches  for  President  Lincoln, 
Quartermaster  Gen.  Meigs,  Surgeon  Gen.  Barnes,  and 
others  of  the  Department.  The  fighting  was  terrific  on  the 
right  and  left  wings  when  we  started.  It  was  two  p.  M. 
Crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  U.  S.  Ford.  We  traveled^  all 
night  through  the  enemy's  country.  We  could  see  their  sig 
nal  rockets,  sent  up  along  the  line  of  signal  stations,  from  Belle 
Plain  to  Guineas  Station,  on  the  Richmond  and  Fredericks- 
burg  rail  road.  We  reached  the  Potomac  at  four  next 
morning  at  Acquia  creek.  Fearing  the  guerrillas,  should 
we  remain  on  the  Virginia  shore,  we  constructed  a  raft  of 
drift  wood  and  boards,  on  which,  by  great  exertion,  pad- 


284  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

dling  under  a  broiling  sun,  we  succeeded  in  crossing  the 
river,  which,  at  this  point,  is  several  miles  wide.  By  trav 
eling  afoot  about  five  miles,  we  met  a  Union  guard,  who 
conducted  us  to  Capt.  Russell,  company  A,  First  Purnell 
Legion. 

The  captain  entertained  us  with  a  good  dinner,  which 
relished  well  after  over  twenty-four  hours'  hard  toil,  minus 
our  rations.  After  dinner  we  hailed  a  schooner,  bound  up 
stream,  and  Capt.  Russell  sent  us  out  to  her  in  his  row- 
boat.  It  proved  to  be  the  General  Hunter  of  Baltimore. 
The  captain  informed  us  that  he  had  a  case  of  small-pox 
aboard,  and  strove  to  warn  us  away.  But  we  were  too 
anxious  to  get  to  Washington  with  our  dispatches  to  be 
delayed  by  one  case  of  small-pox.  Light  breezes,  or  no 
breeze  at  all,  delayed  us,  and  we  did  not  reach  the  capital 
till  seven  A.  M.  on  the  9th.  We  were  landed  at  the  navy 
yard,  whence  we  were  sent  to  the  War  Department  in  the 
private  carriage  of  the  officer  in  command. 

The  authorities  had  not  heard  from  the  army  in  three 
days — and  eventful  days  they  had  been  —  as  Mosby  had 
cut  off  all  communication  by  way  of  the  Orange  and  Alex 
andria  rail  road. 

After  delivering  our  messages  and  receiving  answers, 
with  other  dispatches  for  Gen.  Grant,  Gen.  Meigs  sent  ug 
down  the  river  aboard  the  steamer  Lizzie  Baker.  We 
were  landed  at  night,  near  Acquia  creek,  and  traveled  to 
Fredericksburg.  •  Seeing  camp  fires  in  and  about  the 
town,  we  expected  to  meet  the  Rebels,  but  were  gladly 
disappointed  in  finding  them  to  be  our  own. 

The  next  morning,  the  10th,  we  had  the  pleasure  of  tak 
ing  breakfast  with  Lieut.  F.  A.  Boutelle  of  the  Fifth  New 


FIFTH  ISTEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  285 

York  Cavalry,  chief  ambulance  officer  of  the  division 
Having  secured  horses  and  an  orderly,  we  started  for  Gen. 
Grant's  headquarters,  which  we  reached  about  eleven  A.  M., 
near  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  The  fighting  was  very 
heavy  during  the  day,  and  continued  through  the  night. 

May  ll^A,  near  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  Our  men  cap 
ture  eight  generals,  forty-five  pieces  of  artillery,  and  seven 
thousand  prisoners. 

August  3<M,  1864.  It  had  been  reported  that  the  Rebels 
were  constructing  a  cross  rail  road  from  Stony  Creek  Station, 
Weldon  &  Petersburg  rail  road,  to  the  Southside  rail  road- 
I  was  sent  to  ascertain  the  fact,  in  company  with  James  Hat- 
tan,  one  of  General  Grant's  scouts.  As  neither  of  us  knew 
the  country,  we  procured  a  darkey  guide.  We  had  pro 
ceeded  but  a  short  distance  from  our  lines,  at  a  point  near 
Lee's  mills,  on  the  Blackwater  river,  when  a  squad  of 
Rebels  saw  us,  and  gave  us  chase.  Being  on  foot,  we  soon 
reached  thick  woods,  and  escaped.  We  traveled  nearly  all 
night,  and,  getting  near  our  destination,  we  started  for  a 
large  farm  house,  to  make  some  inquiries,  when  a  picket 
cried  out  "halt!"  As  we  did  not  obey  him,  he  fired,  and 
thus  aroused  a  whole  regiment,  that  was  soon  in  the  saddle. 
We  took  to  the  woods  again.  We  spent  considerable  time  in 
trying  to  cross  the  Indian  swamp,  but  in  vain.  Here  we  lost 
our  guide,  who,  desiring  to  visit  his  wife  at  her  master's,  Mr. 
Dunn,  whose  house  was  under  Rebel  guards,  was  either 
killed  or  captured.  By  a  new  route  we  traveled  on  toward 
Stony  Creek  Station,  till  daybreak.  At  this  time  we  sought 
the  nearest  ravine,  where  we  crept  into  a  few  bushes,  and 
sought  rest.  Though  we  were  much  exposed  during  the 
day,  much  Rebel  cavalry  prowling  about,  and,  some  of  the 


286  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

time,  very  near  us,  yet  from  a  faithful  darkey,  whom  we 
saw,  we  secured  both  food  and  drink,  and  received  all 
needed  information  about  the  new  cross  rail  road,  which  was 
not  yet  being  built. 

Under  the  darkness  of  night,  we  started  back  for  our 
lines,  and  crossed  the  Indian  swamp  near  Mr.  Sterling 
Saunder's  farm,  and  soon  arrived  at  Mr.  Charles  Kean's, 
where  we  found  a  darkey  prepared  for  a  promenade  with  his 
Dinah,  it  being  Sabbath  evening.  He  was  dressed  in  grand 
style,  with  black  coat,  white  pants  and  vest,  standing  collar, 
and  a  splendid  beaver.  He  sported  a  big  cane,  with  a  brass 
knob  on  the  handle.  Thus  caparisoned,  he  did  not  relish 
the  idea  of  becoming  guide.  But  excuses  were  useless,  and 
he  must  show  us  across  the  big  swamp  called  Jones'  Hole. 
The  night  became  very  dark,  and  we  were  compelled  is  feel 
our  way  much  of  the  time.  This  was  no  easy  task,  as  we 
were  obliged  to  walk  on  fallen  trees,  some  lying  in  the  water, 
and  others  three  or  four  feet  above.  By  a  misstep,  Mr. 
guide  went  off  one  of  these  logs  into  mud  and  water.  It 
was  difficult  to  restrain  laughter,  when  the  poor  fellow 
crawled  out,  to  think,  had  it  been  day,  what  a  sudden  change 
of  color  his  white  pants  and  vest  must  have  undergone. 
Having  reached  terra  firma  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
swamp,  we  gave  the  guide  a  five  dollar  greenback,  and  sent 
him  back  to  his  Dinah.  We  crossed  the  Jerusalem  plnnk  road 
just  south  of  Captain  Proctor's  farm. house,  and  reached  our 
lines  about  twelve  I.,  at  Burnt  Mills,  near  the  Norfolk  rail 
road.  We  were  furnished  horses  and  an  orderly,  and  made 
our  way  to  General  Grant's  headquarters,  glad  to  be  'within 
our  own  lines  once  more.  C.  A.  P., 

Co.  G?  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Company  Registers.  — Organizations. —  Officers.  —  Interesting  In 
cidents  in  Personal  Adventures  of  the  men. 

In  this  connection  is  given  only  an  epitome  of  each  com 
pany,  in  which  may  be  found  the  dates  of  the  appointments 
or  commissions  of  its  officers  ;  an  account  of  its  organiza 
tion  ;  the  leading  events  of  its  history,  and  a  brief  mention 
of  a  few  men,  who,  for  special  acts  of  bravery,  or  for  pecu 
liar  misfortunes,  are  deemed  worthy  of  this  notice.  It  would 
be  a  pleasure  to  mention  here  all  those  men,  who  possessed 
the  "  stuff  of  which  heroes  are  made,"  and  who  have  always 
performed  their  duty  so  well,  but  the  space  allotted  us  will 
not  permit  it 

COMPANY  A. 

Officers. 

Augustus?.  Green,  Captain,  August  15th,  1801.  Re 
signed,  November  5th,  1862. 

Thomas  Burns,  1st  Lieutenant,  August  15th,  18G1.  Re 
signed,  May  21st,  1862. 

Henry  Wilson,  2d  Lieutenant.  August  15th,  1861.  1st 
Lieutenant,  May  21st,  1861.  Captured,  July  18th,  1862, 
Barnett's  Ford.  Resigned,  December  28th,  1862. 

Luke  McGuinn,  2d  Lieutenant,  May  23d,  1862.  Captain, 
24 


288  HISTORIC    RECORDS. 

November  5th,  18G2.  Killed,  May  5th,  1864,  Parker's  Store. 

Frazer     A.    Boutelle,    2d     Lieutenant    from    Sergeant, 

September  10th,   1862.      1st  Lieutenant,  December    20th, 

1863.  Discharged,    Expiration    of  Term,    September    1st, 

1864.  Captain,  November  14th,  1864. 

Theodore  A.  Boice,  1st  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
December  29th,  1862.  Captain,  Company  B,  December 
20th,  1863. 

William  T.  Boyd,  2d  Lieutenant,  December  20th,  1863. 

Michael  Hayes,  1st  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
November  14th,  1864. 

This  company  formed  the  original  nucleus  of  the  regi 
ment,  and  was  raised  by  Captain  Green,  in  New  York  city. 
It  was  mustered  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  August 
15th,  1861,  at  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  by  Captain  L.  S.  Lamed, 
5th  U.  S.  Infantry.  The  first  recruit  of  the  company  was  Fra 
zer  A.  Boutelle,  its  present  captain.  It  was  engaged  alone  in 
the  first  action  recorded  in  our  history,  May  2d,  1862,  near 
Port  Republic.  It  there  lost  the  first  prisoner  ever  made 
from  the  regiment  —  John  Beaumont. 

Sergeant  C.  A.  Maguire,  August  30th,  1862,  distinguished 
himself  as  bearer  of  dispatches  from  Gen.  Pope  to  Gen.  Mc 
Dowell,  having  to  traverse  the  enemy's  lines  between  Ma- 
nassas  Junction  and  Gainesville,  compelled  to  fight  much  of 
the  way,  assisted  by  only  ten  men,  yet  accomplishing  his 
task. 

Sergeant  T.  McGiveran  had  three  horses  killed  under 
him,  and  Sergeant  W.  Murray  four.  A  solid  shot  taking 
away  the  horse's  head  of  the  latter,  June  1st,  1864,  at  Ash 
land,  while  falling,  he  coolly  exclaimed,  "  Be  jabers,  this  is 
a  fine  way  to  dismount  a  man  !" 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  289 

Sergeants  T.  Burke  and  W.  Herrick,  June  30th,  1863. 
at  Hanover,  Pa.,  captured  a  Rebel  battle  flag  and  several 
prisoners. 

John  Catlin,  bugler,  a  boy  sixteen  years  old,  March  7th, 
1865,  Rood's  Hill,  captured  General  Rosser's  chief  bugler, 
a  tall  man,  and  secured  his  bugle  as  a  memento  of  the  war. 

Nearly  the  whole  company  was  captured,  on  picket,  at 
Barnett's  ford,  Rapidan,  July  18th,  1862. 

Original  number  of  men,  at  time  of  muster  in,  76;  whole 
number,  183  ;  men  killed  in  action,  2;  mortally  wounded,  2; 
wounded,  26;  number  of  wounds,  35;  men  captured,  58; 
missed  in  action  and  never  heard  from,1  2 ;  died  in  Rebel 
prisons,  6;  died  of  disease,  7;  veterans,2  16;  veterans  re 
maining,  July  19th,  1865,  12 ;  whole  number  of  men 
remaining,  63. 

COMPANY  B. 

Officers. 

Lyon  Isaacs,  Captain,  August  21st,  1861.  Resigned,  May 
18th,  1862. 

David  Abohbot.  1st  Lieutenant,  August  21st,  1861.  Re 
signed,  May,  1862. 

Philip  Dwyer,  2d  Lieutenant,  August  21st,  1861.  Mor 
tally  wounded,  May  23d,  1862,  Front  Royal.  Died,  May  25th. 

Alfred  W.  Creamer,  Captain  from  1st  Lieutenant  Co.  E, 
May  2d,  1862.  Resigned,  January  12th,  1863. 

Jeremiah  Collins,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  May 
24th,  1862.  Left  by  Special  Order,  December  13th,  1862. 


1  These  men  were  probably  killed. 

2  These  veterans  are  men  who  were  originally  with  the  regi 
ment,  and  who  reenlisted  in  the  early  part  of  1864. 


290  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Abram  H.  Hasbrouck,  Captain  from  2d  Lieutenant  Co. 
G-,  January  12th,  1863.  Left  by  Special  Order,  December 
26th,  1863. 

Samuel  McBride,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Hospital  Steward, 
December  13th,  1862.  1st  Lieutenant,  July  27th,  1863. 

Llewellyn  N.  Stevens,  1st  Lieutenant,  January  9th,  1863. 
Resigned,  June  1st,  1863. 

Frederic  Von  Klitzing,  2d  Lieutenant,  May  19th,  1863. 
Resigned,  September  6th,  1863. 

Jabez  Chambers,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  Sep 
tember  1st,  1863.  1st  Lieutenant,  March  28th,  1864.  Cap- 
tain,  December  9th,  1864. 

Theodore  A.  Boice,  Captain  from  1st  Lieutenant  Co.  A, 
December  20th,  1863.  Major,  September  15th,  1864. 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  November  14th,  1804. 

Edward  Price,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  Decem 
ber  9th,  1864. 

Capt.  Isaacs  organized  this  company  in  New  York  city, 
commencing  the  work  in  July,  1861.  It  was  mustered  into 
the  service  of  U.  S.,  August  21st,  1861,  Long  Island,  N. 
Y.,  by  Capt.  A.  P.  Green. 

The  company  suffered  terribly  with  company  D,  May  23d, 
1862,  at  Front  Royal. 

These  two  companies  were  afterward  detached  from  the 
regiment,  to  serve  on  Crosby's  battery,  which  they  did 
till  October  1st,  1862.  Meanwhile  they  were  engaged, 
September  19th,  at  Antietam. 

October  9th,  1864,  the  company  assisted  in  capturing  six 
pieces  of  artillery  and  the  enemy's  train.  October  19th, 
1864,  it  captured  four  pieces  of  artillery. 

Capt.   Chambers,  September   19th,  1864,  captured  seven 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  291 

prisoners.  Sergeant  C.  Statley  was  twice  wounded  and  once 
captured,  but  escaped  from  his  guards. 

John  Braden  was  twice  captured,  but  effected  his  escape 
each  time,  and  has  had  three  horses  killed  under  him  in 
action. 

Original  number  of  men,  84;  whole  number,  190;  men 
killed  in  action,  5;  mortally  wounded,  2;  wounded,  27; 
number  of  wounds,  33;  men  captured,  44;  missed  in  action 
and  never  heard  from,  2  ;  died  in  Rebel  prisons,  10  ;  died  of 
disease,  2 ;  killed  accidentally,  3 ;  discharged  by  reason  of 
wounds,  7 ;  veterans,  12 ;  veterans  remaining,  July  19th, 
1865,  8 ;  whole  number  of  men  remaining,  59 

Original  horses  remaining,  1. 

COMPANY  C. 
Officer*. 

Ira  Wright,  Captain,  August  8th,  1861.  Left  by  Special 
Order,  September  22d,  1862. 

Henry  L.  Bogardus,  1st  Lieutenant,  August  8th,  1861. 
Resigned,  June  1st,  1862. 

Charles  J.   Farley,   2d   Lieutenant,   August  8th,    1861 
Captain,   September  22d,  1862.     Wounded  twice,  October 
19th,  1863.     Wounded  in  foot,  August  25th,  1864.     Lost 
right  leg,  and  slight  wound  in  head,  September  19th,  1864. 
Discharged,  Expiration  of  Term,  January  16th,  1865. 

Edward  Whiteford,  1st  Lieutenant,  June  1st,  1862. 
Resigned,  November  12th,  1862. 

Benjamin  M.  Whittemore,  1st  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant. 
November  13th,  1862.  Captain,  January  16th,  1865. 

Joseph  B.  Grice,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant  Co.  J. 
September  22d,  1862.  Left  by  Special  Order,  May  7th,  1863. 


292  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Robert  A!arper,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  May 
7th,  1863.  Left  by  Special  Order  377  A.  G.  0.,  November 
1st,  1864. 

William  Leahey,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  No 
vember  14th,  1864.  1st  Lieutenant,  January  16th,  1865. 

Patrick  Tiffany,  2d-  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  Janu 
ary  16th,  1865. 

This  company  was  raised  in  New  York  city,  by  Captain 
Wright,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  September  3d,  1861,  at  Staten  Island,  N.  Y..  by 
Captain  L.  S.  Lamed.  It  won  great  praise  during  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  by  carrying  dispatches  at  night 
through  the  enemy's  lines,  from  General  Pope  to  General 
Kearney. 

Sergeant  McNulty  was  severely  wounded  and  captured, 
March  13th,  1864,  Ely's  Ford,  but  escaped,  saving  his 
money,  a  considerable  amount,  in  the  bottom  of  one  of  his 
boots.  The  Rebels  undertook  several  times  to  take  his 
boots  from  him,  as  was  their  custom  to  do,  but  he  plead 
successfully  on  account  of  his  wounds.  He  was  captured 
again,  June  28th,  1864.  Escaped  from  prison,  Greensboro', 
S.  C.,  and  was  five  weeks  in  reaching  our  lines. 

The  following  captures  were  made  by  the  company, 
October  19th,  1864,  at  Cedar  creek  : 

Lieutenant  Leahey,  one  headquarters  medical  wagon; 
Sergeants  Tiffany  and  Highland,  two  pieces  of  artillery  and 
twenty  prisoners;  Harvey  Rickert,  one  piece  of  artillery ;  P. 
J.  Geraty,  seven  prisoners  and  one  wagon  ;  Sergeant  W.  H. 
Norcott,  one  caisson  and  six  prisoners ;  Corporal  J.  Farrell, 
one  gun  and  limber  and  six  horses;  Sergeant  John  Buckley, 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  29-3 

one  gun  and  six  horses ;  the  same  by  James  Perry,  who  was 
accidentally  and  mortally  wounded,  February  27th,  1865. 

John  Stein  was  four  times  captured,  and  died  in  prison. 

Original  number  of  men,  76;  whole  number,  188;  men 
killed  in  action,  7  :  mortally  wounded,  2 ;  wounded,  23 ; 
number  of  wounds,  29;  men  captured,  43;  missed  in  action 
and  never  heard  from,  2 ;  died  in  Rebel  prisons,  9 ;  died  of 
disease,  6;  killed  accidentally,  3 ;  veterans,  22;  veterans  re 
maining,  July  19th,  1865,  14;  whole  number  of  men  re 
maining,  60. 

Original  horses  remaining,  1. 

COMPANY  D. 
Officers. 

Thomas  Coyle,  Captain,  August  21st,  1861.  Died  of  dis 
ease,  November  24th,  1861 

Amos  H.  White,  1st  Lieutenant,  September  21st,  1861. 
Captain,  December  9th,  -1861.  Major,  January  30th,  1863. 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  September  15th,  1864.  Colonel,  No- 
ember,  14th,  1864. 

Seth  B.  Ryder,  2d  Lieutenant,  September  29th,  1861. 
1st  Lieutenant,  June  llth,  1862.  Captain,  January  30th, 
1863.  Captured,  October  10th,  1863,  and  a  prisoner  till 
March,  1865.  Discharged,  Expiration  of  Term,  May  15th, 
1865. 

George  H.  Nichols,  1st  Lieutenant,  March,  1862.  Re 
signed,  June  llth,  1862. 

William  Watson,  1st  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
February  13th,1863.  Left  by  Special  Order,  July  2 7th,  18 63. 

Edward  J.  McArdle,  2d  Lieutenant,  February  2d,  1863. 
Resigned,  June  1st,  1863. 


294  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Henry  J.  Appleby,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Q.  M.  Sergeant 
June  1st,  1863.  1st  Lieutenant,  July  27th  1863.  Dis 
charged,  Expiration  of  Term,  September,  1864. 

Charles  H.  Greenleaf,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
July  27th,  1863.  Mortally  wounded,  August  25th,  1864. 
Died  next  day. 

Ransom  A.  Perkins,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Commissary 
Sergeant,  September  15th,  1864.  1st  Lieutenant,  Novem 
ber  14th,  1864. 

Jeremiah  J.  Callanan,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant, 
November  14th,  1865. 

This  company  was  formed  by  Captain  Coyle,  of  men  en 
listed  in  the  states  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  October  1st, 
1861,  at  Staten  Istand,  N.  Y.,  by  Col.  D.  B.  Sacket,  U. 
S.  Army. 

With  company  B,  it  performed  the  peculiar  work  attached 
to  a  battery,  from  June  to  October, -1862. 

Sergeant  C.  H.  Greenleaf,  May  23d,  1862,  carried  dis 
patches  from  Front  Royal  to  Gen.  Banks  at  Strasburg. ' 
By  bravery  and  skill,  he  gave  timely  notice  of  Stonewall 
Jackson's  flank  movement,  whereby  he  saved  Gen.  Banks' 
army,  which  led  the  general  to  recommend  him  for  promotion. 
He  was  mortally  wounded  in  action,  while  in  command  of 
company  A,  fighting  bravely. 

H.  A.  Smith  received  four  sabre  cuts,  May  23d,  1862, 
and  was  captured.  Wounded  again  and  captured,  June 
23d,  1864,  at  Nottoway  Court  House. 

Corp.  John  Walsh,   October  19th,  1864,  at  Cedar  creek, 


'See  his  letter,  page  31. 


FIFTH  XEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  295 

recaptured  the  colors  of  the  15th  New  Jersey  Vols.,  for 
which  he  received  the  "  Medal  of  Honor,"  awarded  by 
Congress. 

Original  number  of  men,  82;  whole  number,  161;  men 
killed  in  action,  3  ;  mortally  wounded,  1;  wounded,  23; 
number  of  wounds,  27;  men  captured,  59;  missed  in  action 
and  never  heard  from,  3;  died  in  Rebel  prisons,  10;  died 
of  disease,  7;  killed  accidentally,  1;  discharged  by  reason 
of  wounds,  1;  veterans,  16;  veterans  remaining,  July  19th, 
1865,  15 ;  whole  number  of  men  remaining,  45. 

COMPANY  E. 

Officers. 

William  P.  Pratt,  Captain,  August  15th,  1861.  Major, 
July  1st,  1862.  Resigned,  January  30th,  1863. 

Alfred  W.  Creamer,  1st  Lieutenant,  September  17th, 
1861.  Captain  Company  B,  May  2d,  1862. 

William   H.   Williams,   2d    Lieutenant,   November    7th, 

1861.  1st  Lieutenant,  May  2d,  1862.     Captain,  May  28th, 

1862.  Resigned,  February  7th,  1863. 

William  P.  Dye,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  May 
2d,  1862.  1st  Lieutenant,  May  28th,  1862.  Captain, 
February  7th,  1863.  Resigned,  September  3d,  1864. 

Daniel  B.  Merriman,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
May  28th,  1862.  1st  Lieutenant,  February  7th,  1863. 
Discharged  for  physical  disability,  March  29th,  1864. 

Liberty  C.  Abbott,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Q.  M.  Sergeant, 
June  30th,  1863.  1st  Lieutenant,  March  29th,  1864. 
Captain,  November  14th,  1864.  Major,  May  2d,  1865. 

Foster  Dickinson,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  May 
21st,  1864.  1st  Lieutenant,  November  14th,  1864.  Cap 
tain,  June  1st,  1865. 


296  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Matthew  Strait,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Corporal,  November 
14th,  1864.  1st  Lieutenant,  June  1st,  1865. 

Addison  S.  Thompson,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
June  1st,  1865. 

Major  Davidson  raised  this  company  in  Allegany  county, 
N.  Y.,  and  it  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  August  31st,  1861,  at  New  York  city,  by  Captain 
S.  B.  Hayman,  U.  S.  Army. 

Asahel  A.  Spencer  was  the  first  man  of  the  regiment, 
killed  in  action,  May  6th,  1862,  Harrisouburg. 

The  company  has  lost  two  1st  Sergeants,  killed  in  action, 
E.  S.  Dye  and  S.  W.  Sortore,  and  their  commissions  of 
2d  Lieutenants  reached  the  regiment  just  after  their  deaths. 

John  Leiser  deserted  from  the  Hebel  army  and  joined 
this  company.  He  was  a  true  and  brave  soldier.  (See 
Table  —  Men  who  died  in  Rebel  Prisons.) 

Henry  W.  Monroe,  June  30th,  1863.  at  Hanover,  Pa.,  re 
ceived  a  gunshot  wound  through  his  body,  so  that  stones  of 
cherries  he  had  eaten  that  morning  passed  through  the 
wound.  He  got  well. 

Corporal  Charles  A.  Miner,  October  9th,  1864,  Tom's 
Brook,  while  pursuing  the  enemy,  emerged  from  a  piece  of 
woods,  in  sight  of  eight  Rebels.  He  cried  out  "  Come  on 
boys !"  looking  back  as  though  he  were  leading  a  company 
of  men.  Without  firing  a  shot  the  Rebels  fled,  leaving  a 
wagon  loaded  with  hay,  and  six  mules.  He  was  killed  by 
the  falling  of  the  walls  of  Union  Hotel,  Winchester, 
December  16th,  1864. 

Major  L.  C.  Abbott,  October  9th,  1864,  captured  six  pri 
soners,  by  making  a  sabre  charge  upon  them. 

Lieutenant  M.  Strait,  September  19th,  1864,  had  a  button 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  297 

of  his  coat  driven  into  his  left  hand,  by  a  bullet.  He 
fought  bravely,  October  9th,  1864,  capturing  General 
Rosser's  headquarters  wagon,  and  securing  tie  general's 
private  saddle.  October  19th,  he  captured  a  brass  battery 
of  six  guns. 

S.  K.  Ford  joined  the  company,  August,  1861,  but  dis 
played  no  soldierly  qualities  until  October  9th,  1864.  He 
then  captured  five  prisoners,  and  October  19th  he  fought 
desperately,  eliciting  general  admiration,  but  was  severely 
wounded  through  the  right  lung. 

Lieutenant  A.  S.  Thompson.  October  6th,  1864,  Brock's 
Gap,  had  his  horse  killed  under  him  and  was  surrounded  by 
the  enemy.  He  managed  to  secrete  himself  in  bushes  until 
night,  though  so  near  the  Rebels  as  to  hear  them  converse, 
and  escaped  through  their  picket  line,  under  cover  of  the 
darkness.  He  has  had  three  horses  killed  under  him.  Ser 
geant  S.  T.  Uptegrove,  October  6th,  1864,  was  captured, 
stripped  of  all  his  clothing,  and  only  old  rags  replaced,  and 
almost  starved.  He  escaped  from  Rebels  during  the  fight  at 
Tom's  Brook,  October  9th. 

David  F.  Wolcott  was  promoted  to  Saddler  Sergeant,  for  his 
fidelity  as  a  soldier  and  a  man. 

L.  C.  Smith  had  three  horses  killed  under  him  in  action. 

Original  number  of  men,  94;  whole  number,  169;  men 
killed  in  action,  5;  mortally  wounded,  2;  wounded,  27; 
number  of  wounds,  39 ;  men  captured,  41 ;  died  in  Rebel 
prisons,  7;  died  of  disease,  7;  killed  accidentally,  2;  dis 
charged  by  reason  of  wounds,  1 ;  veterans,  36 ;  veterans 
remaining  July  19th,  1865,  31;  whole  number  of  men  re 
maining,  60. 

Original  horses  remaining,  1. 


298  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

COMPANY  F. 
Officers. 

"Washington  Wheeler,  Captain,  August  30th,  1861. 
Major,  July  1st,  1862.  Resigned,  September  26th,  1862. 

Levi  Curtis,  1st  Lieutenant,  August  30th,  1861.  Cap 
tain,  July  1st,  1862.  Resigned,  January  22,  1863. 

William  D.  Lucas,  2d  Lieutenant,  August  30th,  1861. 
1st  Lieutenant,  July  1,  1862.  Captain,  January  22,  1863. 

Edward  D.  Tolles,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Commissary  Ser 
geant,  July  1st,  1863.  1st  Lieutenant,  July  22d,  1863. 
Resigned,  October  29th,  1863. 

William  B.  Pickett,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
January  22d,  1863.  1st  Lieutenant,  October  30th,  1863. 
Discharged,  Expiration  of  Term,  October  15th,  1864. 

Walter  C.  Smith,  2d  Lieutenant  from  private,  October 
30th,  1863.  Discharged,  Expiration  of  Term,  October  15th, 
1864. 

Merritt  N.  Chafey,  1st  Lieutenant  from  Regimental  Com 
missary  Sergeant,  November  14th.  1864. 

John  K.  Jeffrey,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  No 
vember  14th,  1864. 

This  company  was  organized  in  Wyoming  county,  N.  Y., 
by  Captain  Wheeler,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  September  21st,  1861,  at  New  York  city,  by 
Captain  S.  B.  Hayman,  U.  S.  Army. 

George  II.  Jenkins,  May  30th,  1863,  shot  an  English 
officer,  who  was  working  a  Rebel  howitzer.  (See  account  of 
that  engagement,  page  59). 

Q.  M.  Sergeant  D.  J.  McMillan  has  been  six  times 
wounded,  receiving  three  sabre  cuts,  June  30th,  1863,  and 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  299 

three  gunshot  wounds  afterward,  one  through  the  left 
lung,  October  19th,  1863. 

Eugene  Pratt  received  eight  wounds  in  one  engagement, 
March  llth,  1864,  from  the  musket  of  a  guerrillas  three 
musket  balls  and  five  buck  shot. 

William  H.  Nieman,  captured,  October  19th,  1863,  was 
not  released  till  April  28th,  1865. 

Original  number  of  men,  92;  whole  number,  189;  men 
killed  in  action,  5;  mortally  wounded,  4;  wounded,  23; 
number  of  wounds,  34;  men  captured,  43;  missed  in  action 
and  never  heard  from,  2;  died  in  Rebel  prisons,  10;  died 
of  disease,  6;  killed  accidentally,  3;  discharged  by  reason 
of  wounds,  4;  veterans,  9;  veterans  remaining  July  19th, 
1865,  8;  whole  number  of  men  remaining,  66. 

COMPANY  G. 
Officers 

Abrani  H.  Krorn,  Captain,  August  1st,  1861.  "Wounded 
twice,  May  3d,  1863.  Major,  December  5th,  1863.  Dis 
charged,  Expiration  of  Term,  October  21st,  1864. 

Wallace  M.  Boyer,  1st  Lieutenant,  August  30th,  1861, 
Resigned,  July  1st,  1862. 

Eugene  B.  Gere,  2d  Lieutenant,  August  27th,  1861. 
1st  Lieutenant,  July  1st,  1862.  Wounded,  August  2d, 
1862.  Resigned,  November  19th,  1862. 

Abram  H.  Hasbrouck,  2d  Lieutenant,  September  20th, 
1862.  Captain,  company  B,  January  12th,  1863. 

James  Bryant,  1st  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  Novem 
ber  19th,  1862.  Captain,  December  5th,  1863.  Captured, 
May  18th,  1864.  Discharged,  Expiration  of  Term,  Janu 
ary  18th,  1865. 

25 


300  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Philip  Krohn,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant,  January 
12th,  1863.  1st  Lieutenant,  December  5th,  1863.  Dis 
charged,  Expiration  of  Term,  May  15th,  1865.  Three 
times  captured,  July  17th,  1862;  August  10th,  1863; 
June  1st,  1864. 

John  H.  Wright,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
March  29th,  1864.  Captain,  January  12th,  1865. 

William  H.  Knight,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant,  Janu 
ary  12th,  1865.  1st  Lieutenant,  June  1st,  1865. 

Abijah  Spafford,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  June 
1st,  1865. 

Captain  Krom  enlisted  this  company  in  Tioga  county, 
N.  Y.  It  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  United  States, 
September  30th,  1861,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  by  Captain 
Lyon  Isaacs. 

John  Mooney  had  five  horses  killed  under  him  in  action, 
during  campaign  of  1864,  yet  was  not  wounded  nor  hurt 
himself. 

Sergeant  Charles  A.  Phelps  has  been  employed  in  the 
secret  service,  as  scout,  by  Generals  Stahel,  Kilpatrick, 
Pleasanton  and  Meade. 

Sergeant  N.  W.  Barnum,  at  the  battle  of  Five  Forks, 
bore  General  Sheridan's  flag,  which  was  pierced  by  two 
bullets,  and  the  standard  grazed. 

Oscar  E.  Farnham,  captured,  June  27th,  1864,  made 
his  escape  by  jumping  from  cars,  while  moving  at  the  rate 
of  twenty  miles  an  hour,  between  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  Savan 
nah.  He  was  thirty-four  days  in  reaching  General  Sher 
man's  army,  assisted  by  negroes,  on  his  way. 

P.  H.  White  and  R.  Dinehart,  October  9th,  1864,  cap- 
tured  one  piece  of  artillery. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  301 

S.  Lynch,  October  19th,  1864,  captured  one  piece  of 
artillery. 

John  Evans,  March  7th,  1865,  had  a  ball  pass  through  a 
pack  of  cards  and  several  plugs  of  tobacco,  lodging  against 
the  skin  opposite  his  heart. 

Sergeant  B.  G.  Wilmot  was  captured,  rejoined  the  regi 
ment,  and  was  captured  again  the  same  day,  May  17th,  1864. 

Original  number  of  men,  95;  whole  number,  155;  men 
killed  in  action,  6;  wounded,  22;  number  of  wounds,  32; 
men  captured,  48;  missed  in  action  and  never  heard  from, 
2 ;  died  in  Rebel  prisons,  9 ;  died  of  disease,  7 ;  discharged 
by  reason  of  wounds,  2;  veterans,  27;  veterans  remaining 
July  19th,  1865,  25;  whole  number  of  men  remaining,  56. 

COMPANY  H. 
Officers. 

John  Hammond,  Captain,  September  14th,  1861.  Major, 
September  26th,  1862.  Lieutenant  Colonel,  March  24th, 
1864.  Colonel,  July  3d,  1864.  Discharged,  Expiration  of 
Term,  September  3d,  1864.  Fore-finger  of  his  right  hand 
broken  by  a  pistol  ball,  September  13th,  1863  ;  Leg  bone 
just  above  right  ankle  cracked  by  a  Minie  ball,  June  1st, 
1864,  at  Ashland. 

Jonas  A.  Benedict,  1st  Lieutenant,  October  22d,  1861. 
Died  from  amputation  of  right  arm,  resulting  from  the  bite 
of  a  man  on  thumb,  December  llth,  1861. 

James  A.  Penfield,  2d  Lieutenant,  October  22d,  1861. 
1st  Lieutenant,  December  llth,  1861.  Captain,  September 
26th,  1862.  Wounded  by  sabre  cut  in  head,  and  captured, 
July  6th,  1863.  In  prison  till  March,  1865.  Commis 
sioned  Major,  March  29th,  1864.  Resigned,  May  2d,  1865. 

John  (T.  Viall,  2d  Lieutenant,  December  llth,  1861.     1st 


302  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Lieutenant,  September  26th,  1862.  Captain,  Company  M, 
April  2d,  1864. 

Elmer  J.  Barker,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant,  Septem 
ber  26th,  1862.  1st  Lieutenant,  November  6th,  1863.  Cap 
tain,  March  29th,  1864.  Major,  November  14th,  1864. 

Eugene  B.  Hayward,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
November  6th,  1863.  1st  Lieutenant,  March  29th,  1864. 
Captain,  November  14th,  1864. 

Lucius  F.  Renne,  1st  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  No 
vember  14th,  1864. 

Clark  M.  Pease,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  No 
vember  14th,  1864. 

This  company  was  organized  in  Crown  Point,  Essex 
county,  N.  Y.,  by  John  Hammond,  assisted  by  C.  F.  Ham 
mond,  Esq.,  who  furnished  all  the  original  horses  for  the 
company  to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  eight.  It  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  October  18th, 

1861,  at  New  York  city,  by  Captain  Bankhead,  U.  S.  Army. 
It  was  detached  from  the  regiment,  to  cooperate  with  in 
fantry  in  the  Luray  Valley,  during  the   early  part  of  May, 

1862.  While    there  it   participated    in    several  sprightly 
skirmishes  with  the  enemy. 

Lieutenant  E.  J.  Barker  distinguished  himself,  May 
30th,  1863,  by  leading  a  charge  on  one  of  Mosby's  how 
itzers,  where  he  fell  wounded  with  two  grape  shot. 

Abram  Folger,  June  30th,  1863.  captured  Lieut.  Colonel 
Payne,  Rebel,  in  a  tan  vat,  where  the  colonel  had  fallen. 

Sergeant  S.  J.  Mason,  with  nine  men,  guarded  the  neu 
tral  ground  between  the  two  armies,  where  General  Lee 
surrendered  his  army  to  General  Grant,  April  9th,  1865, 
at  Appomattox  Court  House 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  303 

John  P.  Durno,  0.  T.  Cornell,  D.  H.  Bobbins,  all  en 
listed  in  this  company  at  Winchester,  Va.,  in  the  spring  of 
1862,  and  were  all  discharged  at  the  same  place,  at  expira 
tion  of  term  of  service,  without  ever  having  been  wounded 
or  hurt,  except  that  Robbins  was  a  prisoner  about  five 
months. 

Original  number  of  men.  106;  whole  number  198;  men 
killed  in  action,  6;  mortally  wounded,  2;  wounded,  31; 
number  of  wounds,  34  ;  men  captured,  65;  missed  in  action 
and  never  heard  from,  2;  died  in  Rebel  prisons,  15;  died 
of  disease,  12;  killed  accidentally,  2;  discharged  by  reason 
of  wounds,  4;  veterans,  28;  veterans  remaining,  July  19th, 
1865,  22;  whole  number  of  men  remaining,  47. 

Original  horses  remaining,  4. 

COMPANY  I. 

Officers. 

George  A.  Bennett,  Captain,  September,  1861.  Re 
signed,  June,  1862. 

Edward  C.  Woodruff,  1st  Lieutenant,  September,  1861. 
Resigned,  April  6th,  1862. 

George  C.  Morton,  2d  Lieutenant,  September  3d,  1861 
1st  Lieutenant,  May  6th,  1862.  Captain,  June  21st,  1862. 
Discharged  by  Special  Order  70  A.  G.  0.,  February  12th, 
1864. 

William  B.  Gary,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant,  May  6th, 
1862.  1st  Lieutenant,  June  21st,  1862.  Captain,  March 
17th,  1864.  Discharged,  Expiration  of  Term,  October 
23d,  1864. 

Eugene  Sullivan,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant,  June 
21st,  1862.  Left  by  General  Orders  No.  7  Army  of  Poto 
mac,  March  24th,  1864. 


304  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Robert  Black,  1st  Lieutenant  from  2d  Lieutenant,  com 
pany  K,  March  17th,  1864.  Discharged  by  Special  Order 
No.  471  A.  G.  0.,  December  28th,  1864. 

Christopher  Heron,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
March  29th,  1864.  1st  Lieutenant,  January  13th,  1865. 

William  H.  Conklin,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
January  13th,  1865. 

Edmund  Blunt,  Jr.,  Captain  from  Captain  company  M, 
June,  1865. 

This  company  was  formed  by  Captain  Bennett  of  men 
enlisted  in  New  York  city,  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
Plainfielcl,  N.  J.  It  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  September  27th,  1864,  at  Staten  Island,  N. 
Y.,  by  Captain  L.  S.  Lamed.  It  was  the  escort  of  General 
Heintzelman,  then  in  command  of  Defenses  of  Washington, 
from  August  27th,  1862,  to  September  1st,  1863.  A  por 
tion  of  the  company  was  in  the  advance  with  the  lamented 
Colonel  Dahlgren,  on  General  Kilpatrick's  raid  to  Rich 
mond,  March,  1864.  (See  account,  page  94). 

Bugler  Conrad  Bohrer,  August  2d,  1862,  saved  the  life 
of  Colonel  DeForest,  who  was  beset  by  a  dozen  Rebels. 
But  Bohrer's  horse  being  shot,  he  fell,  and  an  enemy  thrust 
him  through  the  body  with  a  sabre.  The  enemy,  being 
finally  beaten  and  driven,  the  body  of  this  dauntless  bugler 
was  recovered  and  honored  with  a  military  burial,  where 
he  fell. 

Robert  Campbell,  October  20th,  1864,  captured  fourteen 
prisoners  in  a  squad  near  Cedar  creek. 

Lewis  II.  Crandall  was  poisoned,  October,  1864,  at  Harri- 
sonburg,  dying  soon  after. 

Original    number    of    men,    90 ;    whole    number,    190 ; 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  305 

men  killed  in  action,  8  ;  wounded,  6 ;  number  of  wounds,  8  ; 
men  captured,  20;  died  in  Rebel  prisons,  10;  died  of  dis 
ease,  10;  discharged  by  reason  of  wounds,  2;  veterans,  3; 
veterans  remaining,  July  19th,  1865,  3;  whole  number  of 
men  remaining,  57. 

COMPANY  K. 

Officers. 

William  P.  Hallett,  Captain,  October  1st,  1861.  Re 
signed,  December  16th,  1862. 

Zolman  J.  McMasters,  1st  Lieutenant,  October  9th,  1861. 
Captain,  December  16th,  1862.  Died  of  disease,  September 
24th,  1863. 

Laurence  L.  O'Connor,  2d  Lieutenant,  October  16th, 
1861.  1st  Lieutenant,  December  9th,  1862.  Resigned, 
August  16th,  1863.  Captain,  March  5th,  1864. 

Henry  A.  D.  Merritt,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant,  com 
pany  L,  December  9th,  1862.  1st  Lieutenant,  August  16th, 
1868.  Captain,  November  14th,  1864.  Major,  November 
14th,  1864. 

Robert  Black,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant,  September 
1863.  1st  Lieutenant,  company  I,  March  17th,  1864. 

William  H.  Whitcomb,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
company  M,  May  21st,  1864.  1st  Lieutenant,  company  L, 
November  14th,  1864. 

Thomas  O'Keefe,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  No 
vember  14th,  1864.  1st  Lieutenant,  June  1st,  1865. 

Nathaniel  M.  Talmage,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
June  1st,  1865. 

Captain  Hallett  organized  this  company  in  New  York 
city,  and  it  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service, 


306  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

September  27th,  1861,  at  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  by  Captain 
L.  S.  Lamed.  It  was  detailed  as  Body  Guard  for  General 
Heintzelnian,  August  27th,  1862,  until  September  12th, 
1862,  and  as  escort  for  General  Emory,  commanding  19th 
Army  Corps,  September,  1864,  and  continued  with  the 
general  until  April,  1865. 

Lieutenant  H.  A.  D.  Merritt,  in  command  of  part  of  this 
company,  and  of  company  I,  distinguished  himself  with  Col- 
oriel  Dahlgren,  by  whose  side  he  rode,  when  the  Colonel 
was  killed,  on  Kilpatrick's  raid  to  Richmond,  March,  1864. 
(See  his  narrative  of  the  raid,  page  94). 

Sergeant  D.  H.  Scofield,  October  19th,  1864,  captured  the 
colors  of  the  12th  Virginia  Infantry,  for  which  labor  he  re 
ceived  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  the  u  medal  of  honor," 
awarded  by  Congress. 

Michael  Kenney  has  driven  a  team  of  six  mules  since 
the  organization  of  the  regiment,  and  retains  four  of  the 
original  animals. 

Original  number  of  men,  104;  whole  number,  164;  men 
killed    in    action,    2;    mortally   wounded,  1;  wounded,  8; 
number  of  wounds,  13 ;  men  captured,  31 ;  missed  in  action 
and  never  heard  from,  2 ;  died  in  Rebel  prisons.  11 ;  died  of 
disease,  5;  killed  accidentally,  1;  discharged  by  reason  of 
wounds,   1;  veterans,   17;   veterans    remaining,  July  19th, 
1865,  9;  whole  number  of  men  remaining,  60. 
COMPANY  L. 
Officers. 

Charles  Arthur,  Captain,  September  27th,  1861.  Left 
by  Special  Order,  October  24th,  1862. 

Charles  C.  Suydam,  1st  Lieutenant,  September  27th, 
1861.  Resigned,  May  6th,  1862. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  307 

Augustus  Barker,  2d  Lieutenant,  September  27th,  1861. 
1st  Lieutenant.  May  6th,  1862.  Captain,  October  24th, 
1862.  Captured  by  Mosby,  March  9th.  1863,  at  Fairfax 
Court  House.  Killed  by  guerrillas,  at  Kelly's  Ford,  Sep 
tember  14th,  1863. 

Frank  A.  Monson,  1st  Lieutenant,  October  24th,  1862. 
Captain,  September  14th,  1863.  "Wounded  in  arm,  May 
3d,  1863,  at  Warrenton  Junction.  Resigned,  July  12th,  1864. 

Albert  13.  Waugh,  2d  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant.  October 
24th,  1862.  1st  Lieutenant,  September  14th,  1863.  Dis 
charged,  Expiration  of  Term,  October  23d,  1864. 

George  C.  Morton,  Captain,  July  19th,  1864. 

William  H.  Whitcomb,  1st  Lieutenant  from  2d  Lieutenant 
Company  K,  November  14th,  1864. 

Peter  McMullen,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant,  No 
vember  14th,  1864. 

The  original  men  of  this  company  were  mostly  from  New 
York  city.  Captain  Arthur  organized  the  company,  and  it 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  September 
27th,  1861,  at  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  by  Captain  L.  S. 
Lamed.  It  has  been  in  all  the  engagements  of  the  regi 
ment.  It  was  detailed,  with  companies  I  and  K,  as  Body 
Guard  for  General  Heiutzelman,  August  27th,  1862,  report 
ing  to  the  regiment  again,  with  company  K,  September 
13th,  1862. 

John  McEwan,  on  picket  near  the  Rebel  lines,  accompa 
nied  and  directed  General  Lee  to  the  house  where  he  held 
his  first  interview  with  General  Grant,  and  surrendered  his 
army. 

Original  number  of  men,  79;  whole  number,  164;  men 
killed  in  action,  4;  mortally  wounded,  1;  wounded,  9; 


308  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

number  of  wounds,  12;  men  captured,  39;  missed  in  action 
and  never  heard  from,  1;  died  in  Rebel  prisons,  10;  died 
of  disease,  12;  discharged  by  reason  of  wounds,  2 ;  vete 
rans,  12;  veterans  remaining,  July  19th,  1865,  10;  whole 
number  of  men  remaining,  44. 

COMPANY  M. 

Officers. 

James  P.  Foster,  Captain,  October  1st,  1861.  Resigned, 
August  28th,  1862. 

Samuel  Ten  Broeck,  1st  Lieutenant,  October  1st,  1861. 
Captain,  August  28th,  1862.  Died  of  disease,  July  4th, 
1863. 

George  S.  Clough,  2d  Lieutenant,  October  1st,  1861. 
Resigned,  May  6th,  1862. 

Eugene  D.  Dimmick,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
May  9th,  1862.  1st  Lieutenant,  August  28th,  1862.  Cap 
tain,  July  4th,  1863.  Wounded  in  right  hand,  July  6th, 
1863.  Discharged  by  reason  of  wound,  November  6th,  1863. 

Edmund  Blunt,  Jr.,  2d  Lieutenant,  September  26th, 
1862.  1st  Lieutenant,  July  4th,  1863.  Captain,  Novem 
ber  14th,  1864.  Transferred  to  company  I,  June,  1865. 

Wilbur  F.  Oakley,  2d  Lieutenant  from  1st  Sergeant, 
July  4th,  1863.  1st  Lieutenant,  November  14th,  1864. 
Captain,  January  12th,  1865. 

John  G.  Viall,  Captain  from  1st  Lieutenant  company  H, 
April  2d,  1864  Appointed  Assistant  Quartermaster  of 
Volunteers,  June  18th,  1864. 

William  G.  Peckham,  1st  Lieutenant  from  Sergeant 
company  E,  January  12th,  1865. 

This  company  was  raised  by  Captain  Foster  in  New  York 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  309 

city,  and  in  the  counties  of  Greene  and  Columbia,  and  it 
was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  October 
31st,  1861,  at  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  by  Captain  A.  H. 
Krom.  It  was  escort  for  General  Banks,  from  August 
28th,  1862,  till  September  21st,  1862,  when  it  reported  to 
the  regiment. 

E.  B.  Warner  had  five  horses  killed  under  him  in  action, 
in  one  day,  September  19th,  1864,  at  Winchester.  He 
was  not  hurt  himself. 

Sergeant  W.  H.  Whitcomb  had  two  horses  killed  under 
him  in  action,  and  six  mortally  wounded. 

Original  number  of  men,  86;  whole  number,  186;  men 
killed  in  action,  2;  mortally  wounded,  2;  wounded,  11; 
number  of  wounds,  14  ;  men  captured,  26 ;  died  in  Rebel 
prisons,  7  ;  died  of  disease,  9 ;  killed  accidentally,  3 ;  vete 
rans,  13 ;  veterans  remaining,  July  19th,  1865,  10 ;  whole 
number  of  men  remaining,  77. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


Complete   Roster  of  the   Regiment ;    each  company  given  alpha 
betically. 

The  following  abbreviations  are  used :— Veterans,  by  small  CAPITALS  ;  Prison 
ers  of  War,  by  the  letter  a  ;  Died  of  disease,  by  the  letter  b  ;  Killed  accidentally, 
by  the  letter  c ,'  Missed  iu  action  and  never  heard  from,  by  the  letter  d  ;  Num- 
oer  of  wounds  received  in  action,  by  the  figures  1,  2,  3,  &c. 


Allon,  Solomon, 
Allison,  John, 
Avery,  Edward, 
Bolt,  James  V.,  1. 
Brandt,  George, 
Babby,  Justin,  a 
Bernhardi,  Fred.  W.,  c 
Burke,  Thomas, 
Beaumont,  John,  a 
Bond,  James  II., 
Bro,  Joseph, 
Barwick,  Thomas, 
Branch,  Ruthvin  L., 
Brown,  Amos,  2. 
Boyd,  William  T.,  a 
BOICE,  THEO.  A.,  5.  a 
Bates,  George,  a 
Bradford,  Landon, 
Buckman,  Augustus 
Brittell,  Erwin, 
Bradley,  Peter, 
Bibbins,  John  E., 
Burns,  Michael, 


Company  A.* 

Boutelle,  Frazer  A., 
Calvin,  Henry, 
Cavanaugh,  James, 
Chadwick,  William, 
Crowlej',  James, 
CATLIN,  JOHN,  a 
Clark,  William, 
Coon,  Samuel  C., 
Crandall,  Charles  A., 
Chaffee,  Alpheus,  6 
Chadwick,  Francis  B., 
Clooney,  John  J.,  1. 
Cooper,  Edward. 
Clinton,  Robert, 
Donohue,  Patrick, 
Donohue,  James, 
Duncan,  Alexander, 
Dougherty,  Charles, 
Day,  Edgar,  b 
Douglass,  John, 
Eldridge,  Thomas, 
Flemmings,  David, 
Flagg,  Hubert, 


Freeman,  William, 
Farley,  James,  a 
Goodwin,  Rollin  C.,  a 
Gallagher,  Jamee  H.,  1. 
Glodell,  John, 
Going,  James,  a 
Gillespie,  Patrick, 
Golden,  Charles,  a 
Gcbo,  Edward, 
Goodrich,  Calvin  J., 
Gregory,  George  A., 
Halpln,  Joseph, 
Hall,  Benjamin  F.,  a 
Hare,  Cornelius, 
Hacket,  Uri, 
Hay,  Asa, 

HATES,  MICHAEL,  1.  a 
Hennessey,  William, 
Hathaway,  Charles  A., 
Holloway,  William  H., 
Hanberry,  John, 
Hassett,  William, 
Hallenbeck,  Tunis, 


*  This  Company  had  in  all  183  Men. 


FIFTH  XE\V  YOTIK  CAVALRY. 


311 


HALEY,  PATRICK,  a 
HKRRICK,  WILLIAM,  1. 
Heinsler,  Henry, 
Ueiler,  John,  a 
Hopkins,  Merlin  J.,  a 
HODGKINS,  JOHN, 
Hopkins,  William  H., 
ledell,  John  B.. 
Innells,  Robert, 
Invin,  Robert, 
Jones,  Anson,  1. 
Jones,  Luther  W., 
Jones,  Julius, 
Johnston,  Robert,  a 
Jenks,  George  E.,  1. 
Kenuey,  Thomas  S., 
Kelley,  John, 
Lamport,  John  H.,  a 
Leary,  Daniel, 
Leddy,  Bernard, 
Lively,  William  H., 
Lougeway,  Antoiue.  a 
Lord,  William  E., 
Lappan,  William  H., 
MURRAY,  WTILLIAM,  a 
Malley,  John,  a 
MCGEARY,  BARTLEY, 
Michaels,  Charles  A.,  b 
Marron,  John.  6 
McCarrou,  William  J., 
Moon,  John, 
McGivERAN,  THOMAS,  a 
MAGUIRE,  CHAS.  A.,  2. 
McKeon,  Arthur, 
McNeve,  Patrick,  1.  a 
MARTIN,  DANIEL,  a 
MCDONALD,  JER.,  2.  a 
MERRILL,  CHAUNCSY, 


Muller,  Charles, 
Morehouse,  Edward  A., 
Merrill,  Henry, 
Morgan,  William, 
MORGAN,  CHARLES, 
Milspaugh,  William, 
Mohan,  James, 
McCauley,  Robert,  a 
McCormick,  Michael,  a 
McCormack,  William, 
McDermott,  Thomas, 
Murphy,  William, 
Neil,  Arthur,  1.  a 
Norman,  Merritt, 
Nealoii,  Patrick,  a 

O'SHAUGUNESSY,  PAT., 

O'DoNNELL,  PATRICK, 
O'Connor,  Thomas,  a 
OTarrell,  James, 

O'FLAHERTY,  DENNIS,  a 

O'Brien,  John, 
O'Counell,  James, 
Otis,  Henry, 
Peck,  Jeremiah, 
Pierson,  William  H., 
Pulcipher,  William  P., 
PETERSON,  JOHN, 
Phillips,  Christopher,  d 
Pierre,  Francois, 
Plunkett,  Robert, 
Peet,  Edward  D.,  b 
Rickey,  James, 
Ritchie,  Thomas,  1. 
Rodgers,  William, 
Romaine,  Constantino, 
Ryan,  Peter, 
Reed,  Alexander  E., 
Ryan,  Thomas, 


Ryner,  John, 
Stickney,  Moses, 
Simmonds,  Chas.  F.,  6 
Schreidner,  George, 
Sinclair,  Donald, 
Smith,  Charles  A., 
SCHNEIDER,  CHARLES, 
Stevenson,  John  H., 
Sullivan,  John, 
Sutherland,  Charles, 
Sinclair',  Robert, 
Smith,  David, 
Salter,  Alexander, 
Spargi,  Francis, 
Taylor, William,  a 
Taylor,  Alexander, 
Thompson,  James, 
Tripp,  John, 
Tappan.  William  H., 
Terbush,  Launcelot  B. 
Tyrrell,  Seth,  d 
Taylor,  Abel  T., 
Van  Kirk,  Thomas  W., 
VAN  WERT,  JAS.  C.,  b 
Van  Osdale,  Lewis,  a 
Williamson,  George, 
Wandell,  Andrew,  a 
Wetmore,  Dennis, 
Wales,  Selden  D., 
Wilbur,  George  F.,  a 
WYNN,  JAMES,  1.  a 
WALKER,  GEORGE, 
Winchell,  James  N., 
Wilson,  John, 
WUITMORE,  ALEX., 
Woods,  William, 
Woods,  John, 
Zimmerman,  Baldwin, 


312 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


Company  B.* 

Avist,  Henry  P., 

Dewey,  Matthew, 

Jones,  Joei, 

Alderdice,  William, 

Dillon,  John, 

Jelley,  James, 

Abel,  Fredrick,  1. 

Driscoll,  James, 

Kelley,  James,  a 

Billings,  Calvin, 

Denniston,  Saml.  M.,1. 

King,  Louis, 

Brown,  William, 

Davenport,  Keyes, 

Leech,  Thomas  S., 

Bradahaw,  Gust's.  W., 

Dougherty,  William,  a 

Lamarsh,  Peter, 

BUTTEKWOBTH,   THOS., 

Decker,  Charles, 

Leno,  Thomas, 

BEERS,  CUABLES, 

Day,  Michael, 

Laven,  John, 

Borst,  Edward  S.,  a 

Duffey,  James, 

Latour,  Joseph,  a 

BRADEN,  JOHN,  a 

Dana.  Henry  L., 

Latour.  Solomon,  Jr., 

Brown,  George, 

Dubois,  John  B.,  a 

Lathrop,  Mervin,  1. 

BROWN,  JOHN, 

Depew,  Job,  1. 

Lewis,  Cyrus  B., 

Burnap,  Tracy, 

Ducat,  Joseph,  Jr. 

Lewis,  James,  1.  a 

Balcom,  Myron  B., 

Dubois,  Henry, 

Lynch,  John, 

Burt,  Edmund,  Jr., 

Ellis,  Charles, 

Lanuey,  Patrick  H., 

Barden,  Oscar  L., 

Eddy,  Albert, 

Levy,  Bernard,  1. 

Buffington,  Henry  P., 

French,  James, 

Laguna,  Miguel, 

Buffiugton,  Nathan  H., 

Ford,  William  V.,  a 

Miles,  Silas,  a 

Bouxcries,  John, 

Feeney,  Thomas, 

McChale.  Michael, 

Bradshaw,  John, 

Freeman,  Hugh, 

McCormick,  Robert, 

Barrilla,  Francis, 

Ferguson,  John  II., 

McNalley,  Edward, 

CHAMBERS,  JABEZ,  a 

Fowler,  John  A., 

McChale,  James, 

Cooney,  William, 

Fero,  Peter  H.,  1. 

McCaw,  John, 

Criddle,  William,  c 

Goggaus,  John, 

McManus,  John, 

Coleman,  Michael, 

GARDELLE,  GEORGE,  1. 

McCarty,  James, 

Christian,  Robert,  a 

Gorton,  Cornelius,  a 

Miller,  Amos, 

Chaffee,  Hanson  G.,  1. 

Graham,  Edward,  1. 

Morse,  John  L.,  a 

Chaffee,  Otis  II., 

Green,  Jackson, 

Mills,  Francis, 

Chaffee,  Edwin  E.,  1. 

Green,  John, 

Martin,  Edward  A.,  d 

Cole,  Orlando,  1. 

Hayes,  Charles, 

Major,  Benjamin, 

Cole,  Avery, 

Huller,  Christian, 

Murphy,  Daniel, 

Corbin,  Levi  H., 

Hank,  Edward, 

More,  Adam, 

Cortes,  William, 

Hogan,  James, 

Mowbray,  William  RM 

Cann,  Edward,  b 

Horr,  John, 

Moran,  William, 

Crum,  Henry, 

Hutching  Simeon,  A.,  a 

Manning,  Mortimer  F., 

Coffin,  German, 

Hogle,  Martin  V., 

Mahar,  Robert, 

Curalier,  Peter, 

Hay,  Wellington, 

Morrissey,  John,  <f 

Carlos,  John, 

Hay,  William, 

Newland,  Francis, 

Collins,  Jeremiah, 

Hannan,  James, 

Northaway,  Erastus, 

Dyke,  John, 

Isaacs,  David, 

Neddo,  John  B. 

This  Company  had  in  all  190  Men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


313 


O'Blenis,  Charles, 
O'Connell,  Lewis, 
O'Douuell,  James, 
O'Connell,  James, 
Page,  William  C.,  a 
Putnam,  Charles  E., 
PRICE,  EDWARD, 
PARLOW,  EBENEZKR  E., 
PERRY,  JOSEPH, 
Place,  Armstrong  B., 
Pray,  John  II., 
Qumn,  Joseph, 
Reeves,  William  P., 
Reed,  John, 
Reed,  Gorman  H., 
Rosenbrock,  Joseph, 
Richards,  Samuel, 
Roach,  James  M., 
Rix,  Silas  A.,  a 
Runciman,  John  R.,  a 
Richards,  Thomas, 
Richards,  Herman,  a 
Rooney,  John,  a 
Rooney,  Michael, 


STATLEY,  CHAS.,  2.  a 
Snyder,  Edward, 
Sheardown,  J.  M.,  1.  a 
Smith,  John  S.,  1. 
Stewart,  Charles, 
SAMPSON,  WILLIAM  H.,  a 
Surprise,  Nelson,  d 
Scafe,  Robert, 
Smith,  Amos  B., 
Stafford,  John,  1. 
Scully,  William, 
Son,  William  M., 
Strong,  Harvey  J., 
Smith,  George  T., 
Smith,  Edmund, 
Scddinger,  James, 
Scherry,  Jacob, 
Sauerwein,  Albert, 
Shugare,  Daniel,  1. 
Tunnerhill,  James, 
TIERKEY,  PATRICK, 
Updyke,  John  R., 
Ward,  Edward, 


Walsh,  William, 
Waghorn,  John.  2.  a 
Whalen,  James, 
Wood,  Oscar, 
Wilkins,  David,  1. 
Welsh,  Andrew, 
Waggoner,  George, 
WALSH,  JAMES, 
Whaley,  George  T.,  b 
Winch,  Clark,  1. 
Wilbur,  Willis,  1.  c 
Whipple,  Elisha  W., 
Whipple,  Frank, 
Wheeler,  Ellas  W., 
Williamson,  William, 
Whitaker,  Aaron, 
Walsh,  James, 
Wayne,  William, 
Walker,  Charles  H., 
Westerfield,  Charles,  1. 
West,  William, 
Young,  John, 
Young,  William,  1.  a 


314 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


ANDERSON,  ROBERT  S., 
Adams,  James, 
Bateson,  John, 
Bakeman,  William  H., 
Brothers,  Charles,  a 
Biesell,  Aimer, 
Billiugs,  Calvin, 
Bureau,  Joseph  B.,  a 
BURGESS,  A.  D.,  1.  a 
BUCKLEY,  JOHN,  1. 
Brennan,  William,  1. 
Bogue,  Fred  S.,  a 
Barry,  "William. 
Bigelow,  Ephraim,  d 
Bigelow,  Henry,  b 
Beardsley.  William  P., 
Brown,  Charles, 
Curtis,  B.  N., 
COFFEE,  MICHAEL,- 
Clarke,  James  W., 
Conkliu,  Gardner,  1.  a 
Creightou,  William, 
Cooper,  Louis, 
Caldecott,  Joseph, 
Church,  Charles  L.,  a 
Campbell,  Levi  C., 
Cavanaugh,  Joseph, 
Caple,  Elijah, 
Clare,  Simon, 
Duvall,  Robert  H., 
Doty,  George  W., 
Douglass,  Joseph, 
Dailey,  Anthony, 
Doyle,  Cornelius, 
Doyle,  James, 
Driscoll,  John, 
Donohne,  Florence, 
Devoe,  John, 
Dudley,  John, 
Durand,  Ferdinand, 


Company  C.* 

Desiletz,  Felix,  1. 
EVANS,  JOHN  W.,  a 
Flitchard,  George, 
Farrell,  James, 
Fuller,  Percival, 
Fitch,  Edward  H.,  a 
Fairchild,  Henry, 
FRENYER,  THOMAS, 
Ferris,  Almou  F., 
Fiuau,  Patrick,  a 
Finley,  Martin,  b 
GRAHAM,  ROBERT  W., 
GERATY,  PHILIP  J., 
Gaffney,  Philip, 
Greenwood,  William,  1. 
Gregoire,  Simia, 
Gardner,  John, 
Haley,  Michael, 
Halley,  Michael, 
Hodge,  Charles, 
Hogan,  Philip, 
Hickok,  George  C.,  1.  a 
HARPER,  ROBERT,  1. 
Hogan,  Patrick, 
HOWARD,  MICHAEL,  a 
HIGHLAND,  JAMES, 
Hayes,  Timothy,  c 
Haley,  Michael, 
Hurley,  Daniel, 
Holdridge,  William, 
Hickey,  William, 
Hand,  Laurence,  a 
Hill,  Henry, 
Hughes,  Michael, 
Harrington,  Philip, 
Johnson,  Charles, 
Jones,  David, 
JONES,  WILLIAM,  a 
Jeandro,  Elijah, 
Keefe,  Edward, 


King,  Theodore, 
Kistner,  John,  1. 
Ketchum,  Charles,  b 
Kelley,  William, 
KANAHAN,  PATRICK,  a 
Keuney,  Patrick, 
Leeuey,  George,  a 
LEAHEY,  WILLIAM,  1. 
Leonard,  Bartholomew, 
Lincoln,  Patrick  Q.,  a 
LUCAS,  JOHN  C., 
Lauray,  George  C., 
Lucha,  John,  a 
Lahue,  Napoleon,  a 
Murphy,  Michael,  c 
Meagher,  John, 
MARTIN,  EDWARD, 
Michaels,  James,  a 
Morrell,  Isaac, 
Mornement,  Mark  D., 
Meade,  Sylvester,  2.  a 
Montgomery,  Thomaa,  o 
Manor,  William,  a 
Miller,  Rockwell  D.,  d 
Moore,  Orlando,  1. 
Moran,  Edward, 
Mead,  Edward,  b 
Mitchell,  Thomas, 
Mack,  Michael, 
Marshall,  Milton  C., 
Mason,  George, 
McCormick,  William, 
McCoy,  Allen  B., 
McComb,  James,  b 
McKissick,  David, 
MCCAULEY,  OWEN,  1.  a 
MCNULTY,  OWEN,  7.  a 
McGlade,  Joseph, 
McLane,  John, 
McDade,  Jaines,  1. 


*  This  Company  had  in  all  188  Men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALKY. 


315 


McNearney,  Charles, 
McGrath,  William, 
Norman,  Adeodat, 
Norman,  Edward, 
NORCUTT,  WILLIAM  n., 
Newton,  Horace, 
Nolan,  Thomas, 
O'Meara,  Daniel, 
O'Connor,  Timothy, 
O'Connor,  Patrick, 
Owen,  Leonard,  Jr.,  a 
Pease,  Henry  W. 
Perry,  James,  c 
PYRES,  HEXRY,  a 
QUINLAN,  PATRICK, 
Rickerts,  John  B., 
Rickerts,  Harvey  H., 
Rensiug,  Egnetz,  1. 
Raymer,  Fredrick,  a 
Riches,  James  H., 
Roach,  William, 
Reynolds,  Thomas, 
Rock,  John, 


Riley,  Martin,  1. 
Riche,  Louis,  1. 
Stanananght,  Richard, 
Smith,  Sherman  H., 
Smith,  John, 
Smith,  John, 
Smith,  William  P.,  a 
Smith,  George  W., 
Smith,  James, 
Stiuson,  George, 
Sackett,  Edmund,  a 
Southard,  Matthew,  a 
SAWYER,  FRED  M.,  1 
Shea,  John, 
Stein,  John,  1.  a 
Snyder,  John, 
Shalley,  Thomas, 
Spaulding,  Nelson  W., 
Soper,  Briggs, 
Schoolcraft,  Perry,  1. 
Shaver,  Samuel  M., 
Skelton,  John, 
Sullivan,  James, 


Tiffany,  Patrick,  a 
Taylor,  John  W., 
Tench,  James,  a 
TILESTON,  ARTHUK  T., 
Titus,  William  H., 
Touhill,  John, 
Van,  Nicholas, 
Vreeland,  James, 
Wright,  Aaron,  1. 
Willard,  Charles  W., 
Wilbur,  George  H., 
Wilter.  William, 
Whittemore,  Benj.  M.,  a 
Wissells,  George, 
Williams,  Charles, 
Weaver,  Charles, 
Whalen,  Michael, 
Withers,  John,  a 
Williams,  John, 
Wescott,  Erastus, 
Wood,  James, 
Whitney,  George, 


316 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


Alberty,  James  F., 
Armstrong,  James  H., 
Angeline,Michael, 
Allen,  Alonzo  F., 
Appleby,  Henry  J.,  1. 
Adams,  Joseph, 
Bush,  Thomas, 
Billings,  Henry  C., 
Bellows,  George  H., 
Ballard,  George  W., 
Bingham,  Charles  E.,  a 
BOWLER,  PATRICK,  1. 
Barber,  Edmund,  1. 
Bakeman,  William  H., 
Bennett,  Edwin, 
Bunn,  George  A., 
Brooks,  Reuben, 
.          Collins,  Th 

Courtne}',  Joh 
Curran,  John  C., 
Chaffee,  Wilson,  b 
Cady,  Michael, 
Chapman,  Tarquin,  a 
Critchley,  Edward, 
Cadwell,  Jerome, 
Cole,  John  P., 
C  ALLAN  AN,  JER.  J.,  1. 
Cinnamiln$C.  M.,  1.  a 
CINNAMON,  PETER, 
Cook,  Ira  J., 
Caroli,  Frederic, 
Cringer,  David  E.,  b 
Cardelle,  Samuel, 
Davis,  Henry, 
DUNIGAN,  MICHAEL,  a 
Duren,  Henry  M., 
Devoe,  Cornelius,  a 
Elliott,  John  H., 
EASTMAN,  CHARLES  R., 
Fancier,  Thomas, 


Company  D.* 

Fox,  Thomas, 
Geary,  Michael, 
GREELEY,  S.  H.,  1.  a 
Gallagher,  Patrick,  a 
Grosveuor,  Charles  H., 
Goyette,  John, 
Garrow.  James, 
GREENLEAF,  CHAS.  H., 
Hurlbert,  Ira  O., 
Hams,  John  G.,  Jr., 
Hathaway,  William, 
HEISSER,  ROBERT, 
HURLBERT,  GEORGE  E., 
HOKIRK,  GEORGE  R 
Higgins,  Peter,  a 
Hearn,  Joseph, 
Hastings,  Edward,  a 
Hazletou,  Norman,  a 
Hurd,  Henry,  a 
Jordon,  Walter, 
Jandrew,  Francis,  1 
Kenwell,  Richard,  a 
Kelley,  Patrick, 
Lee,  James, 
Lester,  Charles  F., 
Laspen,  Germania, 
Lindee,  Francis,  d 
Latham,  Joseph, 
Langdon,  John, 
Lanigar,  John, 
Luther,  Allen  D., 
Lynch,  Thomas,  a 
Marshall,  William  H.,  1. 
Matthews,  Peter, 
MOFFATT,  JAMES, 
Mahoney,  Dennis,  1.  a 
Matthews,  Charles,  a 
Murphy,  Michael  J.. 
Malone,  Edward, 
Morehouse,  Frank,  a 


McDermott,  John, 
McGinley,  Jas.  A..  1.  a 
McCarthy,  Patrick,  b 
McSweeney,  Eugene,  a 
McGovern,  Peter,  1.  a 
McNeil,  John  T., 
McDougall,  Horace, 
McCoy.  Thomas, 
Newell,  Nelson  M.,  a 
Ortmau.  Henry, 
Preston,  Edwin,  b 
Preston,  Hcman, 
Perry,  Abraham, 
Preble,  Clark, 
Pitcher,  William, 
Pinkharu,  Andrew,  a 
Pierce,  Henry  C.,  1. 
Perry,  Arthur,  a 
PELLETT,  HENRY  EL, 
PERKINS,  RANSOM  A., 
Parris,  George  W.> 
Quinu,  John,  1.  a 
Riley,  Thomas, 
Ross,  Thomas  H., 
Rhiuevault,  Orman,  a 
Riley,  Patrick, 
Randall,  A.  M., 
Reed,  James  WM  b 
REYNOLDS,  THOMAS, 
Rogers,  Harman,  a 
Shearer,  Sanford  L.,  a 
Stone,  Henry,  a 
SMITH,  HIRAM  A.,  5.  a 
SULLIVAN,  MICHAEL,  a 
Smith,  James,  d 
Smith,  Nelson, 
Smith,  Henry  J., 
Scripter,  Cyril  E.,  a 
SULLIVAN,  JOHN,  a 
Saunders,  Reuben,  a,  b 


This  Company  had  in  all  101  Men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


317 


Sheehey,  William,  a 
Stone,  Fred.  B.,  a 
Schermerhom,  E.  L.,  a 
Schernierhora,  Peter,  a 
Schultz,  Henry,  c 
Stone,  Gardner, 
Tuffield,  Labare, 
Terhune,  John  J., 
Tracey,  Ezra  B., 
TIERNET,  JOHN,  a 
TOBFX,  MICHAEL,  a 
Tanner,  James  H., 
Taylor,  Robert,  a 
Tucker,  John,  a 


Trendon.  John  B.,  1 
Tuel,  David, 
Tainter,  Charles, 
Thomas,  Highland,  1.  a 
Underbill.  Frederick, 
Van  Valkenburgh,  G., 
Van  Orman,  William  D., 
Van  Marter,  William  W., 
Van  Marter,  Alfred  A.,  a 
Vaughn,  John, 
WALSH,  JAKES,  a 
WALSH,  JOHX,  a 
Washburn,  Albert,  b 
White,  James, 


White,  Joel  J., 
Wright,  Charles, 
Williams,  John  P.,  a 
Watkins,  William  W., 
Wyatt,  David  K., 
Watson,  William,  a 
Watson,  John,  1. 
Washburn,  Nicholas,  a 
Wheeler,  Garry  D.. 
White,  Addison  D.,  1.  d 
Wales,  Russell, 
Warner,  Ebenezer, 
Welsh,  Thomas, 


318 


HISTORIC   RECORDS. 


Company  E.* 

ABBOTT,  LIBERTY  C., 

Dye,  William  P., 

KILMER,  SUMNER  E., 

AUSTIN,  ROYAL  G.,  a 

Dye,  Elam  S., 

Kennedy,  John  C., 

Austin,  Frank, 

DICKINSON,  FOSTER,  1. 

Leslie,  William  J., 

ALEXANDER,  B.,  1.  a 

DAVIS,  WILLIAM  H.,  1 

Laromy,  Bartomie, 

Adams,  Leonard, 

Davis,  L.  Uberto, 

Lawrence,  Hiram  M., 

Aldrich,  Aneon, 

Dillon,  Michael, 

Litynski,  Joseph, 

Andrews,  Elias  N., 

EATON,  AARON  C., 

LAMB,  GEORGE  W., 

Beardsley,  Charles  B., 

EATON,  WILLIAM  A.,  a 

Lollis,  John  E., 

Barnum,  Godfrey,  Jr., 

EHMAN,  CHRISTIAN,  1. 

Lamarsh,  Charles, 

Balgard,  Edward, 

Ehmau,  Fred  J.,  Jr.,  a 

Leiser,  John,  a 

Bixby,  Daniel  C.,  a 

Ehman,  Jeremiah, 

Long,  George, 

Boyle,  James, 

Elliott,  William  J., 

Marsh,  Daniel  W., 

Blood,  Augustus  C., 

Euber,  Lewis, 

Merriman,  Daniel  B.. 

Bronson,  Lafayette, 

Fitch,  John  P., 

Merriman,  D.  W., 

Berdan,  Albert, 

Fisk,  Frank,  b 

Morris,  Charles  A.,  1. 

Bennett,  Lyman  II., 

FILKINS,  ISAIAH  V.,  a 

MINER,  CHAS.  A.,  l..c 

Bennett,  Milton  H., 

FORD,  SHERMAN  K.,  1. 

Miner,  Henry,  a 

Beardsley,  Charles  W., 

Gould,  Adelbert  E. 

Miner,  Cornelius  W., 

Brown,  Eli  P.,  b 

Gallup,  Joseph  O., 

MORGAN,  JAMES  KM  1. 

Brown,  George  R.,  b 

Gallup,  Gordon, 

Monroe,  Henry  W.,  1. 

Brown,  Henry  C., 

Gleason,  Jonathan, 

Morris,  Edward  L., 

BYINGTON,  R.  N.,  1. 

Gordon,  Jefferson  T., 

Maloney,  Michael, 

Burke,  John, 

Granger,  James, 

Moutz,  William, 

Bronson,  Frank, 

Hams,  Edward,  b 

Mulligan,  John,  1. 

Boylston,  Edgar  C., 

Heady,  John,  7. 

Mortimer,  Henry,  b 

Breunan,  John, 

Hahne,  John, 

Magai,  Johannis, 

Bernard,  Jules, 

Hiles,  Francis, 

Mahla,  Charles,  b 

CHASE,  JAMES  H.,  1. 

Huestis,  John, 

Mackey,  Patrick,  c 

Campbell,  Dennis,  a 

Hall,  Archibald,  2. 

Masten,  Paul, 

Cuff,  Charles, 

Hall,  William, 

Myott,  Oliver, 

Crowley,  James, 

Hamilton,  John  S., 

Moran,  John,  1. 

Clark,  Fred  J.,  a 

Hussey,  John, 

Machling,  Debold,  1.  a 

Crawford,  Rochester  W., 

Howard,  William, 

MCMULLEN,  CHARLES, 

Campbell,  Owen, 

Johnson,  Erastus, 

McELHENNEY,   A.   J., 

Dragon,  Frank, 

Jubert,  James, 

McGroigan,  Charles, 

Davis,  Leroy  F., 

Jackson,  William,  a 

McCallon,  George,  a 

Dcvanna,  John  II., 

Jackson,  Andrew,  a 

NEWTON,  CHAS.  M.,  1. 

Dolph,  Aaron, 

King,  Joshua, 

Nash,  Malcom  M., 

Dolph,  Joseph, 

King,  Reuben  T., 

Olmsted,  Franklin, 

Dickinson,  D.  R.,  b 

Keyes,  Orson  S.,  a 

Osborn,  Joseph  R.,  a 

This  Company  had  in  all  169  Men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


319 


Porter,  John  C., 
Palmer,  Alonzo, 
Pierce,  Curtis  E.,  1. 
Penner,  Francis, 
PBCKHAM,  W.  G.,  1. 
PACKARD,  LOREN  F.,  1. 
PADDOCK,  ROSWELL  A.,  1. 

PARCELL3,   T.,    1.    a 

REW,  MILTON  D.,  a 
Rew,  Newton  C.,  1,  a 
Rathbone,  John, 
Rasey,  Lorenzo  L. , 
Robertson,  J.  Eliphalet, 
Ryan,  John  A.,  a 
Richards,  Godfrey, 
Richards,  Thomas  B., 
Robertson,  Alex.  L., 


Staunton,  Ilenry, 
SORTORE,  SAMUEL  W., 
SORTORE,  HANFORD  H., 
Sortore,  John  D., 
Sortore,  Elislia, 
SWART,  FRANKLIN  S., 
STRAIT,  MATTHEW,  3.  a 
Snow,  Andrew  J.,  1. 
Seaman,  Henry, 
Sherrer,  Henry, 
Spencer,  Asahel  A., 
Smith,  Lafayette  CM 
THOMPSON,  A.  S.,  a 
TURALL,  EDWIN,  a 
Thrall,  Ira, 
Trowbridge,  John  S.,  1. 


Tourrillon,  Adolph, 
UPTEOROTE,  S.  T.,  2.  a 
Vanderville,  John,  1. 
Whipplo,  Walter, 
Woodward,  Jacob, 
WOODRUFF,  JOHN  B., 

WORTHTXGTON,  L.  M.,  a 

WOLCOTT,  DAVID  F., 
WATERHOUSE,  W.  H.,  a 
Walsh,  Michael, 
Wood,  John  L., 
Well,  John, 
Wells,  Richard  M., 
Wemette,  Paul,  a 
Williams,  Edwin  C., 
Willis,  James, 


320 


HISTORIC  KECORDS. 


Austin,  Merritt,  a 
Arnold,  Corrington  F., 
Axtcll,  Joseph, 
Ackley,  William  F., 
Aikeu,  Horace, 
Atwood,  Silas  M.,  1. 
Ayles worth,  C.  De  F., 
Aiken,  William, 
Arnold,  Addiaon  C., 
Baker,  Samuel, 
Bush,  Amos, 
Bates,  Samuel, 
Benton,  Thomas, 
Butler,  Samuel, 
Brand,  Charles, 
Bloor,  Charles, 
Babcock,  Samuel, 
Bern,  Alouzo,  a 
Baldwin,  Lyman, 
BROWN,  WILLIAM  J., 
Brown,  Ira,  1.  b 
Brown,  John, 
Bernard,  John  W.,  a 
Brooks,  Henry  J.  a 
Bennett,  Winaut  H.,  a 
Brady,  John  R., 
Brink.  Perley, 
Brister,  Elijah,    1. 
Brister,  Ira, 
Bagley,  Avery  E., 
Bostwick,  Judson, 
Blake,  William,  1. 
Bullock,  Samuel, 
Briggs,  William  E.,  b 
Benson,  Peter, 
Bagley,  Daniel  E., 
Cummings,  Nelson  E., 
Coulon,  John,  a 
Carney,  Philip,  a 
Clark,  Theodore, 


Company  F.* 

Carl,  Frank  W., 
Catlin,  Thomas  N.,  1. 

CHA*rET,   M-KRHITT  N., 

Clark,  Nelson. 
Craig,  John, 
Churchill,  Homer, 
Coggen,  Joseph,  1. 
Clans,  John  W., 
Coulston,  Willam  C., 
Craig,  John, 
Clough,  Clarence  M., 
Curtis,  Henry,  c 
Davis,  William, 
Dodge,  George  W., 
Donlon,  Thomas,  a 
Devanna,  John,  a,  d 
Davies,  William  J., 
De  Mott,  James,  1.  a 
Dennis,  George  W.,  6 
De  La  Losa,  Yeidro,  c 
Earl,  Hiram  H.,  a 
Epsal,  Gabriel  F., 
Engalls,  Peter,  a 
Edwards,  Albert, 
Ensign,  Nelson, 
FULLER,  COLONEL, 
Freeman,  Peter  E., 
Fowler,  Hickson  A., 
Fowler,  William  H., 
Freeman,  James, 
Ferris,  John  P., 
Gregg,  John,  a 
Galusha,  Waterman,  a 
Griffith,  Lucius, 
Galpin,  William,  1. 
Goodale,  Ezra  M., 
Graves,  Pliny  A., 
Hogan,  James, 
Hanley,  Michael, 
Hooper,  John, 


Hayes,  John  W., 
HAZLESWARTH,  P.,  a 
Button,  William  B.,  a 
Hawley,  William,  a 
Holmes,  John, 
Hawley,  Everett  A.,  2. 
Harrington,  Charles  H., 
Htirlburt,  Riley  A., 
Huestis,  Frank, 
Hall,  Warren  A., 
TONES,  JOHN  B.,  1.  a 
JACKSON,  JOHN  W.,  a 
Jeffrey,  John  K,  1. 
Jenkins,  George  H.,  1. 
Jackson,  Francis  A., 
Knowlton,  Clark  C.,  a 
Kinney,  Edward, 
Kimball,  Horton,  a 
Leek,  Horace  F., 
Logan,  Charles  H., 
Lawrence,  George  D., 
Luther,  Asa,  a 
Lewis,  Charles, 
Leilous,  Henry, 
MCMILLAN,  D.  J.,  6. 
McMillan,  John,  B.,  a 
McGowan,  James, 
McDonald,  Bernard, 
Morey,  William  C., 
Morey,  Homer  A., 
MOORE,  JAMES, 
Moore,  Wallace,  1. 
Moore,  Franklin  B.,  a 
Mnd'don,  John, 
Meade,  Alonzo  H.,  1. 
Mullen,  William, 
Metcalf,  A.  Judson, 
Metcalf,  George, 
Morton,  Henry  A., 
Moore,  Viceroy, 


*  This  Company  had  in  all  189  Men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


321 


Mapes,  William  W., 
Morgan,  Daniel, 
Masterson,  James, 
Miller,  Jacob, 
Nieman,  William  H.,  a 
Nourse,  Alfred  W., 
Norton,  Samuel  E.,  • 
Nichols,  Wallace, 
Nash,  Orvin  D., 
Osborn,  Calvin  W.,  6.  a 
Ogdcn,  William, 
Oliver,  Jtidson  S.,  a 
Olney,  Marvin, 
Priuz,  Ewald, 
Palmer,  Henry, 
Peterson,  Mahlon  J.,  1. 
Perkins,  Samnel  8. 
Pettis,  Ralph,  b 
Prince.  Henry  A., 
Pickett,  William  B., 
PRATT,  EUGENE,  8.  a 
Porter,  Charles  H., 
Pettis.  Zephaniah, 
Pinney,  Henry  A.. 


Parks,  William  H., 
Pratt,  Gardner,  1. 
Partridge,  Hezekiah  D. 
Portier,  Emile,  1. 
Poyer,  Henry, 
Roff,  John  F., 
Richardson,  Charles  H. 
Riley,  John, 
Rogers,  Edward  A.,  1. 
Rathbone,  George  D., 
Rhodes,  Julius  D., 
SOWERSBY,  WM.  W., 
Smith,  Victor  D.,  ft 
Smith,  Peter  W., 
Smith,  Walter  C. 
Stewart,  Hosea  B., 
.  Sayles,  William  J., 
Stevens,  Victor  M  , 
Stiles,  Addison  D., 
Stearns,  Rollin  A., 
Sumner,  Byron,  a 
THOMAS,  CHARLES  B., 
Tuthill,  James  H., 


Pracey,  Walter  J., 
Tolles,  Edward  D., 
Tolles,  Ralph  N.,  c 
Tallman,  Frank, 
Upclyke,  Nelson, 
Waite,  Darwin, 
WTickham,  James  B., 
Whitmarsh,  Erastus,  ft 
Wight,  Marvin,  a 
WIGHT,  DANIEL,  a 
Wells,  Miles, 
WHITNEY,  CHARLES,  a 
Whitney,  Elisha, 
Whitlock,  Thaddeus  K., 
Williams,  Luke  S., 
Wells,  George,  a 
Wells,  William  H.,  a 
Wilcox,  Charles  Ft, 
White,  Andrew  J.,  a 
White,  Henry, 
Waterman,  Nelson  E.,  d 
Youngs,  Silas  A., 
Zahler,  Nicholas, 


322 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


Adams,  William,  a 
Amts,  Frederic  D., 
Adderley,  James, 
BjTon,  Theophilus, 
Bowden,  William, 
Bailey,  David,  a 
Bailey,  William  V.,  a 
BRYANT,  JAMES,  a 
BUTMAN,  WILLIAM, 
BOVEE,  RODNEY, 
BARNEY,  ALLEN, 
BARNUM,  N.  W.,  2.  a 
BRAINARD,  H.  E.,  a 
Barnes,  Eugene  B.,  a 
Benner,  Philip  R., 
BrookiiiB,  Fred  O., 
Buffington,  Chauncey, 
Bidwell,  John  W.,  1.  a 
Billing?,  James  D. 
Case,  Houston  L., 
Courtwright,  Richard,  a 
CAD  WELL,  EGBERT  B., 
Conlon,  Peter,  a 
Campbell,  Philip, 
Clark,  David  A., 
Cox,  Augustus, 
Curry,  John, 
CAMP,  W.  HARRISON, 
CARPENTER,  RYRON  R., 
Culver,  Lewis  J.,  2. 
Dunn,  Michael, 
DINEHART,  ROBERT, 
DINEHART,  JAS.  A.,  3. 
Devine,  John, 
Davis,  Henry  T.,  a 
DAVISON,  EGBERT. 
DOOLAN,  TIMOTHY,  a 
DOREMUS,  THEODORE, 
DINGMAN,  JOHN, 
DANIELS,  JOHN  L., 


Company  G.* 

DEYO,  CHAUNCEY,  b 
DE  THOMPSON,  GEO.  E., 
Doyle,  John,  a 
Dingmau,  Abram, 
Fverett,  James  H., 
Evans,  John,  2. 
Fox,  Jefferson,  1. 
Fairchild,  Mason  A., 
FARNHAM,  OSCAR  E.,  a 
Fuller,  Corydon, 
Forsyth,  Augustus, 
Foster,  Johnson,  a 
Farnham,  Charles  F.,  a 
Gatefield,  Edmund  M., 
Grant,  James, 
GREEN,  WHEELER  C.,  2. 
GREEN,  STEPHEN  D., 
Gordon,  Samuel,  d 
Green,  Calvin  E., 
Goodwin,  Edward  H.,  a 
Horgan,  John, 
Ilibbard,  Edward, 
Hoyt,  Andrew  J.,  1. 
Hayden,  Albert  B., 
Hunt,  James, 
Hulett,  Benjamin  A.. 
Hulett,  Abram  H.,  a 
Hazen,  Alfred  B., 
HAZEN,  JOHN  M.,  a 
Johnson,  Horace  P., 
Knuppenburg,  John,  1. 
KNIGHT,  WILLIAM  H.,  a 
KROHN,  PHILIP,  a 
Knapp.  Joseph,  b 
Lane,  David,  1. 
Lane,  Cherter  J..  1. 
Lloyd,  John, 
Lowe,  William  T.  I.,  1.  a 
Lynch,  Stephen, 
Markham,  Chester  C.,  b 


Mooney,  John,  4. 
Moran,  William, 
McBride,  John, 
Markell,  James, 
Marikle,  James, 
Mnllory,  James,  2.  a 
'Mrddaugh.  George, 
Mallory,  Warren,  1.  a 
Noble,  Asa  S., 
NORTON,  CYRUS  B., 
Narsh,  Marvin  A., 
Narsh,  John  W., 
Overocker,  DeWitt  C.,  a 
Osborne,  Richard, 
PIERCE,  CHARLES  T.  S., 
Payne,  George,  a 
POLLARD,  JAMES  M.,  1. 
PHELPS,  CHARLES  A., 
Phelps,  John  H., 
Phelps,  Jeremiah  W., 
Phelps,  Theodore  A., 
Prince,  George  M., 
Quinn,  John, 
Rowley,  James, 
Roberts,  Lucius,  d 
Rush,  Richard, 
Ryan,  Philip,  2, 
Roberts,  Philemon, 
Rhinevault,  S.  P., 
Romans,  George  H.,  a 
Russell,  Ralph  L., 
Rogers,  Martin  S.,  1.  a 
Steele,  Seth  A.,  b 
Smith,  Schuyler  F.,  a 
Smith,  John, 
Shaw,  William, 
SPAFFORD,  ABIJAH, 
Sullivan,  Daniel,  b 
Snow,  George  W., 
Spencer,  Nathan  O., 


*  This  Company  had  in  all  155  Men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


323 


Sonthwick,  George, 
Taylor,  Benjamin  F., 
TIERNEY,  JOSEPH,  a 
TRIBE,  JOHN,  a 
Thorn,  John, 
Turner,  William,  a 
Towner,  Lent  H.,  a 
Thompson,  Isaac  M., 
Vincent,  William  B.,  b 
Van  Marter,  F.  W., 
VAN  MARTEB,  J.  C.,  1. 
VANDERMARK,  LUCAS, 


Vandermark,  Nathan,  1. 
VANDERMARK,  JOHN, 
VAN  WINKLE,  C.  O., 
WRIGUT,  JOHN  II.,  a 
WILCOX,  CHARLES  R.,  a 
WILJIOT,  BYRON  G.  a 
WEISS,  JOSEPH,  a 
WHITE,  PETER  H.,  1. 
WHITE,  LORENZO, 
WHITE,  HENRY  P., 
White,  Barney  H., 
White,  Charles, 


White,  Amos, 
White,  Squire, 
Wilson,  John  A.,  6 
Williams,  John  A., 
Witter,  John,  B., 
Witter,  William  A.,  a 
Witter,  William, 
WINFIELD,  HENRY, 
Weston,  Nathan,  2. 
Wiggins,  Frank, 
Wright,  William, 


27 


324 


HISTORIC  EECORDS. 


Company  H.* 

Andrews,  Thomas, 

Durno,  John  P., 

Brislin,  Patrick, 

Durno,  George  C.,  a 

Bottomly,  William, 

Dn  Chene,  George  C.,  1. 

Beebe,  Calvin  L., 

Dunlap,  Robert  A.,  a 

BARKER,  ELMER  J.,  2. 

Dolbeck,  Clcophas, 

BRYDEN,  JAMES,  1. 

Darling,  Truman, 

BAKER,  GEORGE  A.,  1. 

Dwindle,  Nehemiah  B., 

BAKER,  RUSSELL  W., 

Daniels,  Andrew  J., 

BROWN,  WESLEY,  a 

Drake,  Orlando, 

Barrows,  William, 

Davis,  Almeron,  a 

Boudrye,  Charles  A., 

Edwards,  Robert  W. 

Barton,  William  H., 

Ellis,  Richard  R., 

Baker,  Fayette  H.,  1.  a 

Elliott,  Robert, 

Baker,  Caleb  C., 

Fuller.  Nelson,  c 

Barrett,  Alvin,  a 

Ferby,  John, 

Barber,  William  N., 

FULLER,  WARREN  R.,  1. 

Barber.  George  D., 

FRENCH,  JOHN  C.  C.,  a 

Black,  George, 

Folger,  Abram,  1.  a 

Bigelow,  Amos, 

Finney,  Thomas,  1. 

Brittcll,  Guy, 

GORHAM,  LEWIS  J., 

Baker,  George  W., 

Griffin,  Henry, 

Benedict,  Jonas  A.,  b 

Graves,  Horace, 

Burlingame,  Henry  H.,  b 

Gilleo,  Henry,  b 

CAMPNEY,  JAMES, 

Gilleo,  Charles, 

CURKENDALL,  WALTER, 

Glidden,  Stephen  T,, 

Curtis,  Charles  W.,  2. 

Gillett,  Mark, 

Cornell,  Oliver  T., 

Hildreth,  Charles  H.,  d 

Chillson,  Charles  N.,  1. 

Hildreth,  Hartwell  II., 

Cook,  William  H.,  1. 

Rowland,  Arthur, 

Culver,  Coolidge  B., 

ROWLAND,  WARREN, 

Carr,  Duransie  S.,  a 

HANCHETT,  ELBERT  E., 

Connor,  John,  d 

HOLCOMB,  CHARLES  H., 

Chaffee,  Eufus  A.,  a 

HAYWARD,  EUGENE  B., 

Conway,  John, 

Hayward,  Monroe  L., 

Conway,  John,  Jr., 

Hart,  Frank,  a 

Cronk,  Abram, 

Hoyt,  Irvin  F.,  1. 

DAVIS.  WILLIAM, 

liammond,  John,  2. 

Dickerson,  Nelson  II., 

Howe,  Lowell  E., 

Decatur.  Samuel  O., 

Hayes,  Eltnn, 

Dawes,  Orson  J., 

Howke,  Phineas, 

Hayford,  Edwin  T.,  & 
Holden,  Ira  E., 
HASCALL,  ELISHA  F , 
Ives,  George, 
Jackson,  Richard, 
Joiner,  Henry  M., 
JORDAN,  CARLOS  A.,  a 
Johnson,  Walker  E.,  a 
Johnson,  Perry, 
Johnson,  Warren, 
Johnson,  Henry  F., 
Jordan,  Alfrado, 
Jones,  Irving  W.,  a 
Reach,  William  H.,  b 
Kilmer,  Reuben, 
KNIGHT,  JABEZ,  a 
KELLEY,  WILLIAM  E., 
Lane,  Zadoc  F., 
Laverty,  William, 
Laverty,  Allen, 
LETSON,  THOMAS, 
Lamb,  Joseph  J., 
Lafrancc,  Frank, 
Lamson,  William  P.,  8. 
Lyford,  Erskine  W., 
Lively,  James, 
Lively,  William,  2. 
Labounty,  Louis,  a 
Leach,  George  W., 
Maloney,  Nelson, 
Mead,  Abner  B., 
Moncrief,  Albert, 
Miller,  David  B., 
MILLER,  HARMON  C., 
Murdock,  James  A., 
Marshall,  Charles  E.,  b 
Moore,  Viceroy, 
Moore,  Orville  J., 
MOORE,  ALPHARIS  H., 
MINER,  JOHN  J.,  JR.,  a 


*  This  Company  had  in  all  199  Men. 


FIFTH  XEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


325 


MASON,  SILAS  J.,  a 
MCCARTY,  TIMOTHY,  a 
McCAUQHN,  PATRICK, 
MCMANUS,  EDWARD,  a 
McConley,  John,  a 
McKenzie,  Walter  J., 
McGinniss,  Warren, 
McGowen,  Erastus,  1. 
Nelson,  James,  a 
Ozier,  Joseph  J.,  1. 
Odell,  Henry,  a 
ORR,  HORACE,  1.  a 
OAKS,  NELSON  S.,  2. 
Ober.  William, 
Oliver,  Edward  A., 
Oakley,  John, 
Payliug,  William, 
Porter,  Zely  W., 
Palmer,  Allen, 
Perkins,  Isaiah,  b 
Perkins,  Gilman,  b 
Porter,  Robert  W.,  1.  a 
PEASE,  CLARK  M., 
Penfield,  James  A.,  1.  a 
Pierce,  Amos,  a 
Potter,  Allen  L., 
Peasely,  Henry,  a 


Page,  Benjamin  F.,  a 
Parmenter.  George,  b 
Palmer,  Peter  W.,  v  V 
REKNE,  Lucius  F.,  1. 
Raine,  James  H., 
Robbing,  David  H..  a 
Redman,  John,  1.  a 
Rush,  John,  b 
Sickler,  Isaac. 
Smith,  George  E., 
Smith,  Henry  V.,  b 
Smith,  George  W., 
Smith,  George  W., 
Smith,  Charles,  a 
Smith,  John,  a 
Swift,  William  W., 
Shepard,  Edgar  C.,  c 
Sherman,  Abram, 
Starling,  Edgar. 
Sartwell,  William,  1. 
Starks,  John  E.,  1.,  a 
STACY,  JAMES,  a 
Spaulding,  Henry,  a 
Spaulding,  John  S.,  a 
Spaulding,  Joseph  W., 
Shattuck,  Albert  N.,  1.  a 


Stone,  Harry  L., 
SCHENK,  CHARLES, 
Town,  George  L.. 
Town,  Simon, 
Thrasher,  Orlando  F., 
Todd,  Henry  D., 
UNDERBILL,  HIRAM, 
Underbill,  Charles, 
YIALL,  JOHN  G., 
Van  Wert,  James  E., 
Wescott.  Joseph  J.,  1. 
Westcott,  Jonathan, 
WELLS,  CHARLES, 
WYMAN,  HENRY  E., 
WATERMAN,  JOHN,  a 
Washburn,  Benj.  F., 
Woster,  Joseph  E.,  2. 
Warner,  Samuel  S., 
Wells,  Edgar  J., 
Wells,  Nathaniel, 
Wiley,  Henry  A., 
Winters,  Edward  A.,  a 
Wright,  Abner  Z.,  b 
Wilcox,  Charles  H.,  1. 
Warren,  Joseph  R., 
Woodward,  Zephaniah, 


326 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


Company  I.* 

Adams,  William, 

Cummings,  Robert  B., 

Haney,  George  H., 

Adams,  Henry, 

Campbell,  Robert, 

Harris,  George  H., 

Anderson,  Robert  S., 

Drake,  William, 

Harris,  George  W., 

Arnold,  George, 

Douglass,  John, 

Hart,  Joseph, 

Beylan,  John, 

Dempeey,  Charles, 

HERON,  CHRISTOPHER, 

Brooks,  John, 

Dowdy,  James, 

Harmes,  Herman,  a 

Bell,  Richard, 

Daly,  William,  a 

Haupert,  Jacob, 

Baurer,  August, 

Darsy,  Nicholas,  1. 

Heck,  Henry, 

Babbitt,  William  L.,  a 

Day,  Patrick,. 

Howe,  Lowell  S.r 

BARRY,  JAMES,  1. 

Dow,  Edward  S., 

Havens,  Thomas^ 

Barry,  Edward, 

Dunn,  William  B.t 

Harder,  John,  b> 

Banker,  George  R., 

Dnnn,  Joseph,  b 

Herriman,  Edson, 

Barlow,  Nathaniel  A., 

Dunham,  Randolph,  b 

Houston,  James, 

Banfield,  Michael,  b 

Edwards,  Isaac. 

Jordan,  Christopher, 

Bennett,  Joseph  H.,  a 

Edwards,  Charles, 

Johnson,  Daniel  R., 

Behrendt,  John, 

Edwards,  William  G., 

KING,  CHARLES, 

Blauvelt,  John  H. 

French,  James, 

Koch,  John, 

Boland,  William, 

Fairweather,  John  B. 

Klette,  Henry, 

Bohrer,  Conrad, 

Fennely,  Martin, 

Lowrey,  Harvey, 

Boyer,  John, 

Frazer,  Lewis  A.,  b 

La  Fountain,  Gabriel 

Boyle,  Michael, 

Ferguson,  John  H., 

Lundiu,  John  A.,  a 

Ely,  Reuben, 

Freeman,  Albert  S., 

Lewis,  George  C., 

Battles,  Isaac  D.,  a 

Flynn,  Laurence, 

Lovejoy,  Isaiah  H., 

Calhoun,  Samuel, 

Fuller,  Ira  W., 

Lamb,  Julius  C., 

Cary,  William  B., 

Gall,  Alexander, 

Lynch,  James, 

Carroll,  Thomas,  1. 

Gale,  Harrison, 

Mann,  James, 

Carpenter,  George  A., 

Garvin,  Frank  E., 

Meeken,  Henry, 

Clarkson,  James  B., 

Gardner,  David,  a 

MILLS,  WILLIAM,  I. 

Cleeland,  William, 

Grist,  John  P., 

Miller,  George, 

Cocldington,  Job, 

GRAHAM,  ELLIS  J., 

Miner,  Peter, 

Conroy,  Frank, 

Gray,  Asa, 

Morrison,  William,  a 

Conway,  Jacob, 

Green,  Robert, 

McNallen,  James, 

Connolly,  John, 

Garrigan,  James, 

McMinn,  Samuel, 

Conklin.  William,  H., 

Garanger,  Stephen, 

McDonald,  James, 

Crandall,  Lewis  H.,  b 

Hughes,  Francis, 

McKenney,  Edward, 

Crawbuck,  Richard  V., 

Harding,  Alonzo, 

Mtmdraue,  John, 

Cunningham,  Thomas,  a 

Havens,  Ransom  W., 

Moulther,  Charles, 

Crooks,  Jacob  C., 

Henderson,  William, 

Moore,  J.  Buel, 

Clynton,  William  H., 

Hand,  Laurence, 

Mattison,  Dwight  L., 

Clinton,  Robert, 

Hill,  Henry, 

Miller,  Warner, 

*  This  Company  had  in  all  190  Men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


327 


Mack,  James  D.,  b 
Moore,  A.  B., 
Norman,  Adeodat, 
Nickerson,  Daniel, 
Noonan,  Edward, 
CVHalloran,  Daniel  C.,  a 
CTReily,  William, 
O'Meara,  Daniel, 
Olmsted,  John  A.  H., 
Olmsted,  Orman  B., 
O'Mellie,  Matthew, 
Pierce,  Henry, 
Parsons,  Thomas  C., 
Phillips,  John, 
Phillips,  Edward, 
Poulson,  Jacob  C., 
Port,  John  H., 
Peaseley,  Amasa  M., 
Randolph,  Jonathan  D., 
Randolph,  William  MM 
Richards,  Alfred,  a 
Roach,  Charles, 
Riley,  Martin,  a 
Ryan,  Patrick, 


Runyon,  Augustus, 
Reardon,  Daniel, 
Stimpson,  George  B., 
Scott,  John  J., 
Santabar.  Francis,  a 
Shiffer,  Morgan,  a 
Snow,  John,  b 
Schwartz,  John, 
Shay,  James, 
Smith,  Charles  F.,  a 
SMITH,  JOHN  W., 
SOULE,  PETER,  1. 
Spencer,  Robert,  1. 
Springsteen,  John, 
Southard,  Asahel, 
Shalley,  Thomas, 
Sabring,  Alfred,  b 
Tracey,  George  W.,  b 
Townsend.  Thomas, 
Titus,  William  H., 
Townsend,  N., 
Tool,  John, 
Timmona,  Stephen, 


Van  Iderstein,  Peter  J., 
Van  Gorden,  Eli, 
Van  Allen,  benjamin  P., 
Vasbinder,  William  H., 
Vreeland,  Stephen  K., 
Vreeland.  John  T., 
White,  William, 
Wedding,  William, 
Wermetzter,  Francis, 
Wiltse,  Isaac, 
WILTSE,  W.  KBLSEY, 
Wiltse,  Robert  L,, 
Wood,  Frank,  a 
-  WRIGHT,  JAMES  O.,  a 
Whitfield,  Nathan  A., 
Westervelt,  Benjamin, 
Wolfe,  John, 
Wilson,  William, 
Wool,  Luther, 
Woodward,  Philander, 
Young,  Abner  S.,  a 
Yates,  Henry, 
Zimmerman,  Herman, 


328 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


Aldrich.  Aaron, 
Abbey,  Alansou  L., 
Batey,  John, 
BLACK,  ROBERT,  1. 
Briden,  Dominick, 
Brown,  Leonard, 
Briell,  Franz, 
Beach,  Henry  C., 
Butts,  Horace  D., 
Barber,  William, 
Bailey,  Anios,  d 
Coles,  William  P., 
Conners,  John, 
Cullion,  William, 
Colemau,  John, 
CJark,  John. 
Clark,  John  C., 
Conner*?,  Michael, 
Currier,  Andrew, 
Con  way,  Jacob  J., 
Carter,  Rollin  W.,  b 
Campbell,  Ed.  A.,  1.  a 
Cole,  George  W.,  b 
Coggins,  Thomas  E., 
Concilyea,  Edward, 
Ducat,  Moses, 
Daly,  Philip, 
Dinemore,  George  W.,  a 
DOOLING,  JOHN,  1. 
DONALD,  JOHN, 
Dowd,  James  D.,  1.  a 
Doty,  William, 
Dougherty,  John, 
Daley,  Timothy, 
Deegan,  John, 
Dubois.  Henry, 
Dikeman,  George  R., 
Erregger,  Charles, 
English,  George  C., 
Flaherty,  Thomas,  a 


Company  K.* 

Fox,  John, 
Fuller,  Robert, 
Fealey,  John, 
Griffin,  Patrick  H., 
Garroty,  James, 
Greenback,  John, ' 
Gleason,  Patrick,  a 
Galen,  Michael, 
Ges»haw.  Dennis, 
llolden,  John,  a 
Howard,  Abraham,  a 
Howe,  David,  a 
Hemble,  Michael, 
Hecker.  Frederick  L.. 
Howard,  George, 
Howard,  Charles  W., 
Hastings,  Chester  C., 
Holden,  Thomas  M., 
Harper,  James, 
Haley,  Michael, 
Hobart,  Albert, 
Head,  William, 
Hoover,  Samuel, 
Herri  man,  Reuben  D., 
Hall,  James  A., 
Henley,  Frederick,  c 
Harris,  John, 
Jasper,  Robert,  a 
Judah,  Theodore, 
Jones,  John,  a 
KENNEY,  MICHAEL, 
Keeley,  Michael, 
Kennedy,  William, 
Kelley,  Patrick, 
Kingsley,  James  M.,  a 
Keeler,  Horace, 
Latterall,  Charles, 
Lahiff,  James, 
Lockwood,  Edmund, 
Mack,  John,  a 


Monroe,  George  W.,  a 
McCullough,  William. 
McDonald,  Edward, 
McCue,  Alouzo, 
Mclntyre,  James, 
Martin,  Joseph, 
Mooney,  Terence, 
Myers,  Joseph  D., 
Muddon,  John, 
Martin,  Thomas, 
Maddon,  James, 
Mallory,  Thomas, 
Maxfield,  George, 
Mahan,  Benjamin,  d 
Mertou,  Robert  R., 
NOONAN,  JEKEMIAH, 
NEALON,  JAMES, 
Nadow,  Michael, 
O'KEEFE,  THOXAS, 
O'NEIL,  MICHAEL,  o 
O'Brien,  John, 
O'Reilly,  Wiiii&m, 
O'Connor,  Henry, 
Otis,  Horace, 
PHILLIPS,  JOHN,  a 
Perry,  George  W., 
Perry,  Alamanza, 
Perry,  Antoine, 
Porter,  Marvin  B., 
Parsons,  Nelson  R.,  1. 
Parker,  Lewis  B., 
Palmatier,  Daniel, 
Pecot,  Eugene, 
Pecot,  Joseph, 
Pease,  William  H., 
Quinn,  Francis,  a 
Quern,  Carl, 
Rouse,  Peter, 
Rouse,  Alvin, 
Rhodes,  Lucius, 


*  This  Company  had  in  all  164  Men. 


FIFTH  ^EW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


329 


Reed,  John, 

Suddard,  David  H., 

Wilson,  William  J., 

Russell,  Warren, 

Smith,  Charles  J.,  b. 

Willis,  Charles  H., 

Reynolds,  Edward  D., 

TALMAGE,  NATH'L  M., 

Ward,  Richmond, 

Stanton,  Amos, 

Talmadge,  Oliver,  b 

Weatherwax,  John,  a 

Staves,  Anthony  H., 

TOMS,  GEORGE  W., 

WRIGHT,   HORACE, 

Staves,  Peter, 

Telfer,  James, 

Wilkiiis,  Amos,  1. 

SCOFIELD,  DAVID  H., 

Turley,  William. 

Walker,  Charles  H.,  a 

Schaffer,  Charles, 

Truesdale,  Lucius, 

Wilkins,  James,  1.  a 

Stockton,  Thomas, 

Tresch,  George,  a 

Walsh,  James, 

Stafford,  Thomas, 

Tyrrell,  Patrick, 

Welch.  James,  a 

Sherwood,  Nathan, 

Van  Valkenburgh,  R., 

Whitmore,  James, 

Slyter,  John  W.,  1. 

Vilandre,  Theodore,  1, 

Young,  John, 

Shaw,  James,  a 

Watson,  George, 

Young,  Willett, 

Schaeffer,  Frederic 

Williamson.  James, 

Young,  Henry  Y. 

Scott,  George,  a 

Wilcox,  Edward,  b 

330 


HISTORIC  KECORDS. 


Company  L.* 

Aikens,  Hugh, 

Dorman,  James, 

Allen,  Henry  M., 

Earle,  Robert, 

Alexander,  Charles, 

Earle,  Henry, 

Ames,  James  F., 

Eiueson,  Richard, 

Akers,  Charles, 

Eastou,  Theodore  M.,  a 

Avery,  Horace  G., 

Fraser,  William, 

Antindale,  Frederick,  a 

Eraser,  Archibald,  1. 

Antisdale,  George,  a 

Fobs,  Gottlieb, 

Barton,  Joseph, 

Fitzpatrick,  Cornelius, 

Bowen,  Eseck, 

Fitzsimmons.  Patrick, 

Booker,  Joseph, 

Gartland,  John, 

Brown,  Henry, 

GORDON,  JOHN,  a 

Brown,  William, 

Genard,  Auguste,  a 

Boyd,  James, 

Gorth,  Henry, 

Boyd,  John, 

Grieser,  John, 

Brady,  Thomas,  b 

Grice,  Joseph  B., 

Brennan,  John, 

Gable,  Michael, 

Bridges,  Charles  D., 

Gerock,  Charles, 

Boate,  George,  b 

Harvey,  Frederick,  b 

Companion,  Edward, 

Hicks,  Frederick  M.,  a 

Caine,  William, 

Holm,  Louis,  a 

Crane,  Frank, 

Hedlaud,  John,  a 

Compton,  Lewis, 

Hegeman,  William, 

COLLESKIE,  JOHN,  1.  a 

Haiues,  John  Y.,  b 

Cross,  Anthony,  1. 

Hatch,  Orrin  S.,  b 

Cooper,  Lewis,  a 

Holm,  Martin, 

Coles,  William  T.. 

Hambleton,  William, 

Carman,  Archibald, 

HENRETTY,  MICHAEL,  a 

Comes,  William, 

Hewitt,  James, 

Cooley,  Horatio  C., 

Hurd,  Joseph, 

Cameron,  Eli,  a 

Holford,  William, 

Connell,  Dennis,  a 

Hibbard,  Gardner, 

Clark,  Job  IX 

Hedrich,  Ferdinand, 

Connor,  Thomas, 

Jockum,  Adolf, 

Crow,  Benjamin, 

Keer,  Charles, 

DAVENPORT,  H.  L.,  a 

Keffer,  Karl,  1. 

Driescns,  Julius, 

KILBEY,  JAMES, 

Dunn,  John,  b 

Kernon,  Jamea, 

Darling,  Thomas, 

Klotz,  Julius, 

Dorsey,  Edward, 

Kellett,  Robert  J., 

Knapp,  Theodore  M., 
Keefer,  Frank, 
Lindsay,  James, 
Leigh,  James  D., 
Lee,  Henry  R., 
Lavoisier,  Frederic, 
Lockwood,  Sidney  B., 
Lalor,  Finton, 
Lamb,  George,  a 
Lang,  George, 
Lehman,  Henry, 
Lawrence,  Edwin  C.,  b 
MCMULLEN,  PETKR, 
McKnight,  Mortimer, 
McEwan,  John, 
McManus,  Hugh, 
Mejton,  Curtis, 
Merritt,  H.  A.  D.,  3.  a 
Marland,  Charles,  d 
Miner,  John  S., 
Metzler,  Joseph, 
Mahoney,  John, 
Morse,  Ezra, 
Nelson,  Peter, 
Needham,  William, 
O'BRIEN,  DENNIS, 
O'Brien,  Thomas,  a 
Perry,  Albert, 
Perry,  Alhannan, 
Plude,  Henry,  b 
PURDY,  JESSE, 
Porter,  Claudius, 
Pratt,  Albert  Y., 
Place,  Philip  M.,  a 
Petze,  Charles  R., 
Quest,  John  P.,  b 
Rooney,  Daniel, 
Runney,  William, 
Riley,  James, 
Robinson,  Calvin, 


This  Company  had  in  all  164  Men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


.331 


RUSSELL,  WILLIAM  P., 
Rugg,  Silas, 
Richards,  Frank, 
Reynolds,  Charles  J., 
SMITH,  JAMES  G.,  a 
Smith,  John,  a 
Smith,  David  A., 
Sythoff,  Henry  A., 
SENK,  PETER  A., 
Stevens,  George, 
Simpson,  Benjamin, 
Sparks,  Elijah, 
St.  Clair,  Nelson,  a 
Sandispree,  Paul,  1. 
Simonson,  Frederick,  a 


Schlapfer,  John, 
Strntz,  Charles  O.,  a 
Stone,  Nelson  J., 
Scott,  William  J., 
Sweeney,  John  D., 
St.  Clair,  Joseph, 
Starks,  William,  b 
Taft,  Henry, 
Tardy,  Anguste,  a 
Traiuor,  Michael,  b 
TURNER,  BENJAMIN, 
Tittle,  Frederick,  a 
Townsend,  Samuel,  a 
Taylor,  John, 
Utter,  James, 


Unwin,  Edward,  a 
Watson,  William, 
Wells,  Alfred, 
Wangh,  Albert  B., 
Walders,  Charles,  b 
White,  Charles  H., 
Williamson,  James. 
Walker,  Albert  G., 
White,  Isaac, 
Wallace.  Matthew  L.,  a 
Wharton,  Robert,  a 
Tagle,  Joseph,  1.  a 
Yontz,  William,  a 
Zimmerman,  Baldwin, 


332 


HISTORIC  RECORDS. 


Company  M.* 

Anson,  Jedediah  B., 

Depew,  Moses, 

Akers,  David, 

Driscoll,  James, 

Aret,  Martin, 

Depew,  James, 

Alger,  Alonzo, 

Bowling,  Henry, 

Acker,  De  Witt, 

Erdman,  Louis,  a 

Acker,  Wallace, 

Edwards,  James, 

Bircisall,  Chester  K., 

Edwards,  William  H., 

Bogurdus,  George  A., 

Frickc,  Charles, 

Bogardus,  Jeremiah, 

Flemming,  Samuel, 

Bogardns,  William  II.,  1. 

FRANK,  GODFREY,  a 

Burns,  James,  1. 

Fra/ier,  Francis  H., 

Bishop.  Walter  J., 

Feen,  John,  1. 

Blunt,  Edmund,  Jr., 

Fryhoon,  James  H.,  a 

Bebon,  Joseph,  a 

Freeling,  John,  c 

Brown,  Abram  T.,  a 

Fulton,  Philip  S., 

Grown,  John, 

Foster,  James  P., 

Blanchard,  Henry  B., 

Finlay,  James, 

Barton,  Ezra, 

Fenner,  Charles, 

Brando,  Lewis, 

Fenuer,  James, 

BRIDUEMAN,  ANDREW, 

Fiero,  James, 

Crans,  William,  1. 

Gardner,  Leslie, 

Cole,  John  J.,  a 

Goodsell,  Timothy  M., 

Coon,  Alfred, 

Graves,  Hiram  T., 

Cole,  John, 

Garvey,  James, 

Clough,  George  S., 

Heddle,  William, 

Clough,  Jeremiah  J., 

Hoover,  James, 

Chapman,  William, 

Haines,  John  H.,  6 

Crandall,  Edwin, 

HOAVC,  Ralph,  1. 

Conine,  William  II., 

Hoover,  Augustus, 

DE  WITT,  ORLEAN,  2.  a 

Holman,  Melvin, 

Dougherty,  John,  a 

Horton,  J.  Goodrich, 

Davis,  Michael, 

Havey,  John, 

Duvall,  John  W., 

Heckerman,  Thomas, 

Daines,  Arnold  P., 

Hollenbeck,  Eugene, 

Deitz,  Arthur  M., 

Hawes,  Leroy,  1. 

Deer,  Jacob, 

Hollenbeck,  Charles  W., 

Dimmick,  Eugene  D.,  1. 

Haley,  John  F., 

De  Long,  Ira, 

Haney,  John  D., 

Dennis,  William  H., 

Hoyt,  William  F., 

Delano,  Charles, 

Hayes,  Peter, 

Jones,  William  A.,  a 
Jackson,  John, 
Johnson,  William  H., 
KIVILAND,  HENBY,  a 
Keeler,  Egbert, 
Kuhn,  Bernard, 
Kuhn,  Daniel,  b 
Lewis,  Oliver  C., 
Locke,  John, 
Luth,  Charles, 
Lewis,  Jocob  S., 
Lawrence,  Nathaniel, 
Lohman,  Axel  S., 
Lowe,  Abraham, 
Lucklow,  Philip, 
Lowe,  Levi  F.,    , 
Lee,  John  H., 
Lee,  George  S.  W., 
Lucas,  Charles  B., 
Lynch,  John, 
Moore,  Philip  H,,  a 
Moore,  Franklin, 
McCann,  John  F.,  a 
McAllister,  Peter,  a 
McGrady,  James,  b 
McGready,  Hugh, 
McCarthy,  Daniel, 
Morton,  Edward, 
Myles,  John, 
Markham,  William  D., 
Murray,  Thomas, 
Morris,  Henry,  ft 
Magher,  John, 
Morse,  Harrison, 
Marston,  Erastus  D., 
Mahue,  Joha, 
Matthews,  George  A., 
Matthews,  Laurence  A., 
Mead,  William  H., 
Mickle,  Peter, 


This  Company  had  in  all  186  Men. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 


333 


Minnerley,  Charles, 
Mahar,  John, 
Martin,  Hawley,  b 
Morrison,  William, 
Neef,  Philo, 
O'Kourke,  Patrick, 
Odell,  Oliver, 
OAKLET,  WILBUR  F.,  2. 
Osborn,  George  C.,  b 
Poultney,  Robert. 
Plimlcy,  George  P., 
PAINET  OLXEY, 
PITCHER,  SAM'L  T.  B., 
Pfister,  Samuel,  a 
Quimby,  Ephraim, 
Rnfferty,  Peter,  a 
Root,  George  O., 
RIZER,  WILLIAM, 
Rowell,  William, 
Reynolds,  John  C.,  1. 
Ryan,  Michael,  b 
Rice,  George  P., 
Rainey,  James, 


Ryan,  John, 
Rowe,  John, 
Rockafellow,  Horace, 
Rugg,  George,  W.,  a 
Reeves,  William,  c 
Shepard,  Charles, 
Smith,  Charles  D.,  a 
Smith,  Henry,  1. 
Smith,  Frank, 
Smith,  Charles  R., 
Sharkey,  Edward,  c 
Scott,  Elisha  B., 
Straut,  Jacob, 
Swintz,  Jacob,  a 
SPAHX,  JOHX, 
Shoemaker,  John  W., 
Saunders,  Carmine, 
Spencer,  Andrew  K., 
Seaman,  Samuel, 
Swan,  Thomas  M., 
SHONESAY,  JAMES,  1 
Schadler,  Louis, 


Ten  Broeck,  Samuel,  b 
TRAVIS,  JUSTUS,  1. 
Thornton,  J.  Chauncey, 
Ten  Eyck,  Jacob  II., 
Ten  Eyck,  Edward, 
Tripp,  Levi. 
Van  Ness,  Harmon  B., 
Van  Loan,  Jacob  H.. 
Van  Gorder,  Elias, 
WHITCOMB,  W.  H.,  l.a 
Winnie,  Peter, 
Wallace,  Edward, 
Wait,  Richard,  B., 
Warner,  Edward  B., 
Warner,  William, 
Werner,  William, 
Williams,   Samuel, 
Woodbridge,  Henry  X., 
Waldolph,  William  P., 
Yence,  John  E., 
Zimmerman,  Fred, 
Zimmerman,  Jacob. 


NOTE  1.— Great  labor  has  been  bestowed  upon  this  Roster.  Should  inac 
curacies  occur,  or  some  men  fail  to  recive  due  notice  of  their  casualties,  it 
must  be  attributed  to  the  want  of  documents  for  reference.  In  some  instan 
ces, — as  in  Gen.  Banks'  Retreat  from  Strasburg, — company  papers  were  lost. 
However,  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  full  documents  were  not  kept  more 
generally. 

NOTE  2.— Many  of  the  men  marked  VETERANS,  were  not  originally  with 
the  regiment,  but  joined  it  after  having  served  two  years  or  more,  in  some 
other  organization. 


APPENDIX. 


Yielding  to  an  urgent  desire  and  request  of  my  many 
subscribers  and  friends,  I  append  to  these  Records  the  fol 
lowing  selections  from  the  files  of  the  weekly  journal,  which 
I  published  or  read,  to  the  prisoners,  while  confined  in 
Libby  Prison.  It  may  serve  to  illustrate  more  clearly  than 
it  has  been  done  in  the  body  .of  the  work  the  tout  ensemble 
of  that  dark  period  in  the  history  of  thousands  of  our 
soldiers. 


DEVOTED  TO  FACTS  AND  FUN. 

Vol.  I.]     Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  Va.,  August  21st,  1863.      [No.  I. 
PROSPECTUS.1 

The  Lilly  CJironicle  will  be  issued  weekly,  from  Prisoner 
&  Co/s  steam  press  of  thought.  Such  will  be  the  equali 
zation  of  labor  among  those  engaged  in  the  enterprise,  that 
this  publication  can  be  afforded  at  very  low  rates.  Price  of 
subscription,  weekly,  one moment's  good  attention,  in- 


1  Eight  numbers  of  the  Chronicle  were  issued. 

28 


336  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

variably  in  advance.     These  terms  being  complied  with,  the 
paper  will  be  forwarded  postage  free. 

With  such  facilities  before  the  public  for  obtaining  useful 
knowledge,  it  is  needless  to  state  that  we  expect  an  extensive 
patronage.      Our  adherence  to  facts,  which  are  always  the 
most  stubborn  arguments,  and  to  the  motto  that 
"  A  little  nonsense  now  and  then, 
Is  relished  by  the  wisest  men," 

is  a  full  guarantee  to  our  patrons  that  they  will  ever  obtain 
an  ample  equivalent  for  their  subscription  price.  We  can 
not  very  well  forbear  mentioning  that  the  contributors  .to 
our  columns  are  among  the  most  eminent  of  the  land,  in 
cluding  the  skillful  lawyer,  the  sedate  judge,  the  erudito 
priest,  the  amusing  comedian,  the  renowned  legislator,  and 
scores  of  others  from  the  various  walks  of  life,  whose  con 
nection  with  our  periodical  places  success  beyond  a  doubt. 
As  we  make  our  humble  bow  to  the  public,  we  hope  that 
progress  may  mark  our  course  in  every  department  of  our 
work,  until  the  Libby  Chronicle,  its  editor  and  publisher, 
its  friends  and  patrons,  will  find  themselves  sailing  toward 
the  North  Land  of  liberty  and  civilization. 


KANSAS  BRIGADE'S  VERSION  OF  JOHN  BROWN. 

John  Brown's  body  lies  mouldering  in  the  grave, 

While  weep  the  sons  of  bondage  whom  he  ventured  all  to  save, 

And  though  he  lost  his  life  in  struggling  for  the  slave, 

His  soul  is  marching  on. —  CHORUS. 

John  Brown  was  a  hero,  undaunted,  true  and  brave, 
Kansas  knew  his  valor  when  he  fought  her  rights  to  save, 
And  though  the  grass  grows  green  above  his  northern  grave, 
His  soul  is  marching  on. —  CHORUS. 


FIFTH  XEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  337 

He  captured  Harper's  Ferry  with  his  nineteen  men  so  few, 

And  frightened  "Old   Yirgiuny"   till  she  trembled  through  and 

through ; 
They  hung  him  for  a  traitor  —  themselves  a  traitor  crew, 

But  his  soul  is  marching  on. — CHORUS. 

The  conflict  that  he  heralded  he  looks  from  heaven  to  view, 
On  the  army  of  the  UnionVith  her  flag,  red,  white  and  blue, 
And  heaven  shall  ring  with  anthems  o'er  the  deeds  we  mean  to  do, 
As  we  go  marching  on. —  CHORUS. 

0  soldiers  of  Columbia,  then  strike,  while  strike  you  may, 
The  death-blow  of  oppression  in  this  better  time  and  way, 
And  the  dawn  of  old  John  Brown  will  brighten  into  day, 

As  we  go  marching  on. —  CHORUS. 

CAPTAIN. 


" SOUTH  WINDOW,"  LIBBY  PRISON,  RICHMOND,  VA. 
No.  1. 

Mr.  Editor :  Who  among  your  hearers  have  not  felt  as 
the  writer  feels  to-day,  weary  and  worn  out  with  the  dull 
monotony  of  prison  life  ?  There  is  no  future  here  ;  night 
and  day  succeed  one  another  with  but  the  same  scene,  the 
same  fruitless  longing  for  liberty.  Even  these  more  than 
precious  letters,  brief  mementos  of  the  dear  ones  at  home, 
make  the  bitterness  of  captivity  but  the  deeper.  Many,  if 
not  all  of  us,  have  faced  death  on  the  battle  field  and  are 
willing  to  do  so  in  our  Country's  cause  again ;  but  who, 
once  released,  would  yield  to  see  the  walls  of  Libby  Prison 
once  more  ?  True,  that  some  have  been  unfortunate  enough 
to  now  be  prisoners  of  war  a  second,  and,  in  one  instance, 
we  believe,  a  third  time,  —  such  are  entitled  to  our  sympathy. 
They  are  indeed  sufferers. 


338  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Am  I  harping,  Mr.  Editor,  on  a  threadbare  theme  ?  I 
crave  pardon.  A  fit  of  the  blues  is  on  me  to-day,  and  what 
I  write  partakes  of  it.  Even  the  heavens  are  overcast  with 
clouds. 

"  The  autumn  days  have  come 
The  saddest  of  the  year.—" 

We  take  a  sidelong  glance  from  our  "south  window,"  and 
see  away  off  in  the  distance  a  portion  of  Belle  Isle,  occupied 
by  thousands  of  our  brave  men.  Poor  fellows  !  There  lot 
is,  while  it  lasts,  even  worse  than  ours. — 

Hark,  what  sound  breaks  from  the  depths  below  our  feet  ? 

u  Mess  No. ,  dinner."  We  go,  Mr.  Editor,  we  go. 

Sorrowfully  we  lay  our  pen  aside,  hoping  when  we  write 
again,  to  reach  a  more  cheerful  result. 

Au  revoir.     Black  bean  soup  awaits  us. 

CAPTAIN  P. 


CONUNDRUMS. 

Q.  In  what  respect  do  the  officers  confined  in  Libby  re 
semble  Dives  in  the  parable  ? 

Ans.  They  are  looking  to  Abraham  for  comfort. 

Q.  Why  is  an  elephant  like  a  pile  of  brick? 

Ans.  Because  neither  can  climb  a  tree. 

Q.  Why  is  our  soup  in  Libby  like  the  stuff  of  which 
dreams  are  made  ? 

Ans.  Because  it  is  a  body  without  substance. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  339 


CASTLE  THUNDER. 

PART    I. 

On  Gary  street,  in  Richmond,  there  is  a  mongrel  den 

Of  thieves,  sneaks,  and  cowards,  mixed  up  with  gentlemen. 

Oh,  it  is  a  shame  to  huddle  in  together 

Men  and  beasts,  wild  and  tame,  like  birds  of  every  feather. 

The  Reb.  authorities  scared  up  this  living  wonder, 

Made  it  a  prison,  and  named  it  Castle  Thunder. 

Here  they  tumble  in  characters  of  every  hue, 

Reprobates  steeped  in  sin  with  the  Christian  and  the  Jew. 

Conscripts  by  the  dozen,  at  daylight  and  after  dark, 

Come  pouring  in  the  Castle  like  animals  in  the  ark  ; 

Some  are  small,  some  are  great,  some  show  pluck,  some  white  liver, 

Some  from  Mississippi  state  and  "  Goobers"  from  Tar  river. 

Substitutes  and  deserters  come  in  in  sorry  plight, 

And  sub-gents,  too,  are  here  quartered  for  the  night. 

Blockade  runners,  also,  are  shut  up  for  a  warning. 

But  seldom  leave,  as  promised,  early  the  next  morning. 

While  on  Potomac's  banks  both  parties  try  to  nab  'em, 

If  they  escape  the  Yanks,  old  Jeff,  is  sure  to  grab  'em. 

So-called  spies  are  castled  here,  who  think  it  real  hard  luck, 
They  are  all  from  Yankeedom,   excepting  one  Kennuck  ; 
Disloyalists  are  also  here,  and  one  for  being  a  guide, 
The  boys  call  him  Doodlebug,  for  piloting  Burnside. 
We  also  have  an  oyster  man,  who  the  officers  discover, 
Was  Union  on  the  York  but  Secesh  on  James  river. 
Part  first  tells  you  where  the  Castle  is  and  who  are  there, 
Part  second  will  disclose  the  manner  of  our  fare. 

PART    II. 

\\TQ  have  a  dozen  rooms  or  more,  and  in  some  two  or  three, 

The  boys  "wear  handcuffs,  balls  and  chains  —  Confederate  jewelry, 

Some  rest  on  cots,  on  boards,  with   blankets,  some  without  them, 


340  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

And  when  they  get  to  sleep  the  big  bugs  often  rout  them; 

They  never  sleep  in  quiet  though  ever  so  much  drowsy, 

For  the  vermin  are  so  thick  and  big,  the  lice  themselves  are  lousy. 

We  have  eighteen  kinds  of  food,  though  'twill  stagger  your  belief, 

We  have  bread,  beef  and  soup,  and  bread,  soup  and  beef; 

Then  we  separate  about,  with  twenty  in  a  group, 

And  get  beef,  soup  and  bread,  and  beef,  bread  and  soup ; 

For  our  dessert  we  obtain,  though  it  costs  us  nary  red, 

Soup,  bread  and  beef,  and  beef,  soup  and  bread. 

The  bread  we  usually  get  is  of  a  very  good  sort, 

True,  it  is  the  staff  of  life,  but  our  staff  is  rather  short. 

Our  beef's  so  lean  and  dry,  that,  swallowing,  it  will  bound  back, 

Unless  we  recollect  afore,  to  try  to  grease  the  track. 

It  is  too  tough  and  strong,  for  our  noses  or  our  knives. 

The  cattle  were  so  poor  and  thin,  were  killed  to  save  their  lives. 

The  hides  are  made  up  into  shoes,  the  sinews  into  strings, 

The  marrow  into  soup,  and  the  bones  in  pretty  rings. 

Our  soup  is  much  too  weak,  to  please  a  very  high  liver, 

'Tis  made  of  beans,  bugs  and  rice,  and  extract  of  James  river. 

Now  I've  told  you  what  we  eat,  whether  we're  well  or  sick, 
What  we  drink  is  never  strong  though  sometimes  rather  thick. 
Our  drink  is  rarely  river  water,  except  to  save  from  death, 
And  then  for  want  of  whiskey  we  smell  an  officer's  breath. 
Meat  and  drink  are  now  so  scarce  as  to  raise  a  serious  doubt, 
Whether  the  Confederacy  is  not  about  played  out. 
Number  one  and  two  you've  heard,  and  now  in  division  third, 
I  will  say  a  word  about  the  way  we  are  officered. 


Military  officers  of  the  very  meanest  stuff, 

For  every  local  post,  are  considered  good  enough. 

In  officering  Richmond  they  varied  not  the  general  rule, 

To  appoint  a  drunkard,  a  tyrant,  a  coward  or  a  fool. 

It  is  plainly  to  be  seen  that  in  a  little  while 

When  Satan  scoopes  his  jewels  up,  in  Richmond  he'll  get  a  pile. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  341 

At  the  head  of  Richmond  post  they've  placed  a  Marylander, 

And  like  the  devil  in  regions  lost  there  sits  General  Winder. 

He  snaps  and  snarls,  he  rips  and  swears,  whether  sober  or  tight, 

The  old  villain's  heart's  as  black  as  his  head  is  white. 

All  through  this  vicinity  they  hate  him  as  hard  as  they  can, 

Nor  ever  slander  him  with  epithet  of  decent  man. 

However  mean,  he's  a  patriot,  that  may  be  understood, 

For  when  he  left  the  Yankee  land,  'twas  for  his  country's  good. 

We  come  to  Major  Griswold,  who  is  our  Provost  Marshal, 
He's  a  little  prejudiced,  which  makes  him  rather  partial ; 
But  when  compared  to  Winder  he  seems  no  virtue  to  lack, 
As  green  is  almost  white  by  the  side  of  jet  black. 

And  there's  Judge  Baxter,  who  also  is  a  queer  old  case, 

He  has  so  large  a  centre  he  can  hardly  change  his  base. 

He  says  whiskey's  a  dangerous  thing  to  have  about  the  town, 

So,  with  all  his  might,  he's  for  putting  whiskey  down. 

Whiskey  is  fifty  cents  a  drink,  and  of  the  meanest  sort, 

The  Judge,  to  get  his  money's  worth,  swallows  it  by  the  quart. 

I  will  slyly  tell  you,  boys,  if  your  money  you  begrudge, 

How  to  get  your  whiskey  cheap  — step  up  and  tap  the  judge. 

In  the  door  of  the  castle,  like  a  stopple  in  a  jug, 

To  shut  the     prison's  mouth,  they've  stuck  a  Baltimore  plug; 

It  is  Captain  Alexander,  who  is  so  cross  and  spunky, 

He  is  certainly  not  fit  to  command  an  oyster  pungy. 

The  captain  is  such  a  case  as  may  be  often  seen, 

Who  thinks  he's  very  smart,  but  is  invisible  green ; 

He  is  a  thundering  blower,  but  would  not  dare  to  fight, 

As  dogs  that  bark  the  loudest  are  seldom  known  to  bite. 

Yet  he  has  streaks  of  good,  as  well  as  mean,  mixed  for  relief, 

The  first  are  scarce  and  thin  like  fat  in  Confederate  beef. 

He  also  came  from  Maryland,  and  mean  as  Nick  can  make  him, 

And  the  reason  why  we  keep  him  is  because  the  devil  won't  take 

him. 


342  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

Allen  is  a  smooth  old  rat,  that  is  truthfully  said, 

He  shines  with  black  from  boots  to  hat,-  his  face  shines  with  red; 

He  pours  down  whiskey  double-quick,  there  is  no  doubt  of  that : 

Sometimes  he  makes  believe  he's  sick  but  it's  a  brick  in  his  hat. 

Old  Allen  is  a  villain  of  the  very  darkest  stripe, 

He'll  go  home  to  purgatory  as  soon  as  he  is  ripe. 

And  if  he  does  not  blow  off  steam  and  soon  shut  down  the  brakes, 

In  a  dream  of  delerium  he'll  find  his  boots  are  full  of  snakes. 

He  has  an  oily  tongue  and  face  full  of  deceit  and  evil. 

And  should  Old  Nick  miss  that  scape-grace,  there's  no  need  of  a 

devil. 

A  PRIVATE. 


FACTS  AND  FUN. 

I  am  one  of  those  who  have  derived  much  information 
from  the  facts  which  have  been  demonstrated,  and  much 
amusement  from  the  fun  which  has  been  generated  in  the 
columns  of  the  Chronicle.  We  have  been  favored  with 
statements  and  demonstrations  of  facts  pertaining  to  almost 
every  subject  of  public  interest.  Creeds  of  religion  and  po 
litical  faith  have  wisely  been  excluded  from  the  fact  depart 
ment  of  this  association.  No  one  could  consistently  with 
the  objects  of  the  association  and  the  courtesy  due  individual 
members  thereof,  lead  off  with  a  bigoted  or  partisan  state 
ment  and  denunciation,  which  would  necessarily  be  offensive 
to  others,  and  would,  if  replied  to  in  the  same  spirit,  lead 
here  as  elsewhere,  to  recriminations,  disputes  and  disunion. 

We  are  gratified  to  observe  that  this  principle  has  com 
mended  itself  to  all,  and  that  such  questions  have  not  been 
obtruded  upon  ground  sacred  to  instruction. 

Success  to  the  "stubborn"  department  of  the  Lyceum, 
and  may  matters  of  personal  experience,  travels,  history, 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  343 

science  with  its  innumerable  branches,  extending  from  the 
depths  of  the  earth  to  regions  above  and  beyond  our  ken, 
the  arts  and  graces,  Christianity  and  patriotism,  never  lack 
for  able  defenders  and  expounders,  and  the  meetings  of  the 
association  will  not  lack  in  interest,  nor  the  speakers  or 
readers  for  appreciative  listeners.  In  the  stubbornness  of 
fact  is  found  a  self-supporting  dignity. 

Fun,  on  the  contrary,  is  apt,  inside  and  outside  of  our 
circle,  to  degenerate  into  folly.  The  harmless  play  of  seven 
and  eight  p.  M.  has,  at  nine  or  ten,  degenerated  into  pro 
fanity  and  obscenity,  which  wisely  await  darkness  before 
coming  forth  to  disturb  the  sleep  and  sensibilities  of  the 
majority  of  the  officers  here  confined.  Inside  our  circle 
great  care  is  necessary  lest  the  joke  grate  too  harshly  on 
rough  edge  or  straight  edge. 

Of  this  food  so  healthful  for  body  and  mind  we  should 
seek  the  highest  and  best,  by  keeping  watch  and  ward  over 
our  unruly  members,  and  carefully  analyzing  and  examining 
those  specimens  which  are  recognized  models  of  wit.  When 
well  executed  the  burlesque  is,  perhaps,  the  happiest  style 
of  wit.  May  OUT  fun  never  grow  less  in  quantity  or  quality. 
Vive  fa  Bagatelle. 

MAJOR  P. 


NEWS  OF  LIBBY. 

Monday,  September  28th,  12  M. 

Rumored  that  the  exchange  commissioners  did  not  meet 
yesterday  as  was  expected. 

Four  p.  M.  Rumor  says  that  the  United  States  commis 
sioners,  having  heard  of  Spencer  Kellogg's  execution,  imme 
diately  returned  without  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  Confede- 


344  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

rate  States  troop,  and   that  there  will  be   no  exchange   of 
prisoners  soon. 

September  29th.  As  a  result  of  yesterday's  news  the 
spirits  are  drooping  in  all,  except  those  of  the  huxtering 
fry,  who  seem  to  have  renewed  their  diligence. 

September  30?/L  We  have  news  from  a  reliable  source, 
that  all  the  Federal  officers  are  to  be  paroled  and  sent  north 
on  the  next  truce  boat. 

Three  p.  M.  Since  receiving  the  above  telegram  we  have 
received  information  that  no  exchange  or  parole  is  to  occur, 
as  the  exchange  agents  have  not  acceeded  to  any  proposi 
tions  yet  offered,  and  that  the  next  truce  boat  will  bring 
blankets  and  clothing  for  the  Libby  family. 

October  1st.  The  huxtering  fry  say  they  will  allow  fruit 
to  be  conveyed  down  Red  Lane  pike,  if  the  teamsters  will 
allow  them  a  profitable  remuneration. 

Latest  from  the  hospital,  four  and  one  half  P.  M.  A  United 
States  gun-boat  brought  dispatches  that  no  exchange  even 
of  privates  would  be  allowed  until  the  case  of  Kellogg  is 
satisfactorily  explained. 

Still  later,  nine  P.  M.  The  commissioners  are  to  meet  on 
the  3d  October.  The  United  States  commissioner  will  bring 
six  gun-boats  along  to  protect  the  white  flag. 

Yours, 

JACK  RUMORTRAP. 

"  SOUTH  WINDOW." 
No  2. 

Shall  I  tell  you  why.  Mr.  Editor,  that  ensconced  in  this 
out-of-the-way  corner,  close  to  this  cross-barred  frame,  why 
I  call  it  my  South  Window  ?  Because  memory  reverts  to 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  345 

another  scene  and  time  in  by-gone  days,  when  a  fair  bright 
face  oft  watched  adown  the  road,  the  first  to  welcome  the 
toiler  home.  I  wonder  if  she  sits  in  that  "south  window" 
now  and  waits  the  wanderer's  return  ? 

Ah,  Mr.  Editor,  whose  heart  so  cold  it  would  not  warm 
with  thoughts  like  these  ?  Ever  as  memory  goes  back  to 
those  fast-growing  far  distant  hours  I  picture  my  happy 
home.  Situated  a  few  miles  away  from  the  busy  hum  of 
the  metropolis  on  a  little  bay,  nestled  among  a  magnificent 
grove  of  chesnuts,  hid  by  them  from  the  sight  of  the  passer 
by,  is  my  home. 

There  at  night,  after  the  work  of  the  day,  have  I  retired 
in  keen  enjoyment  of  the  comforts  of  a  happy  home,  sur 
rounded  only  by  those  who  love.  Such  a  life  is  almost  the 
p'oet's  dream  of  Elysium.  There  in  the  early  mists  of  the 
morning  have  I  mounted  my  horse  for  a  ride  along  the  sea 
shore,  or  through  the  clover  fields;  or  in  the  moonlit  sum 
mer's  evening  have  unfurled  the  sails  of  my  "Bonny"  yacht 
and  glided  on  the  smooth  surface  of  the  bay,  hour  after 
hour,  happy  in  forgetfulness  of  all  save  the  present.  This, 
in  all  its  wide  meaning,  is  home. 

And  here,  Mr.  Editor,  the  oft-repeated  prayer  arises,  may 
the  day  soon  come,  when  you  and  I,  and  all  of  us,  shall 
leave  our  prison  abode,  and  be  permitted  to  clasp  our  loved 
ones  in  a  warm  embrace,  when  the  dismal  clouds  of  war  are 
scattered,  and  the  sunshine  of  peace  shall  fall  upon  a  reu 
nited  land. 

Once  more,  Au  revoir. 

CAPTAIN  P. 


346  HISTORIC  EECORDS. 

(Written  expressly  for  the  Libby  Chronicle.) 

THE  LIBBYAD. 

"Of  Libby's  lice  to  us  the  direful  spring 
Of  woes  unnumbered,  heavenly  muses  sing." 

Homer  modernized. 

Think  not  my  theme  so  trifling,  none  you  can  mention, 
Ileceives  in  Libby  half  so  much  attention. 
A  phonographic  class  of  half  a  dozen  score, 
In  one  short  week,  falls  off  a  half  or  more  ; 
French,  too,  and  Spanish,  as  all  can  plainly  see, 
Lose  their  students  in  the  same  degree; 
But  who  so  lazy,  so  busy,  or  so  nice, 
Neglects  to  give  an  hour  each  day  to  lice, 
Will  be  beset  with  troubles  great  and  small, 
And  have  hard  scratching  to  get  along  at  all. 
If  poets  write  of  battles  'twixt  frogs  and  mice, 
Why  not  of  skirmishes  'twixt  men  and  lice? 
And  while  these  verses  rud.e  we  are  enditing, 
Look  'round  to  see  the -different  styles  of  fighting. 

Watch  Pugilisticus,  he  in  a  trice, 
Pulls  off  his  dirty  shirt  to  fight  his  lice  ; 
His  muscles  thus  of  cumbrous  duds  bereft, 
See  with  what  science  he  "puts  in  his  left" 
Upon  the  bodies  of  his  luckless  brood, 
And  Pugilisticus  has  gained  "first  blood." 
With  double  fury  he  "puts  in  his  right," 
And  Pugilisticus  has  "  won  the  fight." 

And  there's  Historicus,  with  scabby  back, 

Would  trace  their  history  as  he  hears  them  crack  ; 

Wonders  if  these  lice  bear  the  same  description, 

As  those  once  scratched  by  Pharaoh  and  the  Egyptians. 

He  tries,  in  vain,  from  facts  and  from  analogy, 

To  thread  their  lineage  and  genealogy. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  347 

He  learns,  however,  with  very  little  pains, 

The  proudest  blood  of  Libby  is  flowing  in  their  veins. 

He  marks,  too,  that  the  death  of  these,  his  little  foes, 

Is  not  as  ignominious  as  thoughtless  men  suppose. 

Sisera,  a  great  warrior,  was  slain  by  Jael, 

With  those  unwarlike  weapons,  a  hammer  and  a  nail, 

While  to  slay  these,  so  very  much  abused, 

Although  there  be  no  hammer,  two  nails  are  always  used. 

Mark  now  Gallantricus,  that  nice  young  man, 
With  taper  fingers  made  to  wield  a  lady's  fan, 
Much  disgusted,  see  him  hunting,  half  ashamed  of  being  seen, 
Thinks  it  "  very  unpretty,"  lice  should  stay  ia  shirt  so  clean. 
See  now  his  handsome  visage,  what  contortions  and  grimaces! 
As  if  to  scare  the  nasty  things,  by  making  ugly  faces. 
What  would  she  think,  his  would-be,  future  spouse, 
To  see  him  strip  and  squat  and  grin  and  louse  ? 

Behold  Theologicus,  with  reverend  face, 
Peering  with  care  in  every  hiding  place. 

And  while  his  little  flock  crawls  'round  through  heaps  of  slain, 
Such  thoughts  as  these  come  crawling  through  his  brain: 
What  if  'midst  all  the  creeds  and  doctrines  which  so  stagger  us, 
That  should  be  true  announced  by  old  Pythagoras  ! 
That  after  death  men's  souls  instead  of  going 
To  heaven  or  hell  according  to  the  showing 
Of  orthodoxy  teachers,  simply  go  forth 
To  inhabit  birds  and  beasts,  insects  and  so  forth 
Base  or  noble  as  their  lives  may  show  forth. 
Most  in  this  prison,  if  I  judge  aright, 
Will  live  in  noble  beasts  and  birds  of  lofty  flight. 
But  some  there  are,  who'll  live  again  as  hogs, 
Some  skunks,  some  asses,  some  as  snappish  dogs. 
A  very  few  have  souls  so  small  and  base 
That  even  such  as  these  they  would  disgrace. 
Crammed  in  this  loathsome  prison,  scorned  like  slaves, 
29 


348  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

Insulted,  starved  by  coward  traitor  knaves, 
The  men  who  in  our  suffering  have  betrayed  us, 
And  fawn  on  those  who  brutally  degrade  us, 
Even  such  small  souls,  will  find  a  fitting  nice, 
And  live  hereafter,  in  loathsome  Libby's  lice. 

There's  Philosophicus,  with  thoughtful  brow. 

Who  knows  the"  why''  of  everything,  the  "what"  and  "how. 

He  watches  his  louse  to  learn  each  secret  habit, 

Befcre  with  bloody  fangs  he  proceeds  to  grab  it. 

Sees  it  in  its  cozy  nest  recline, 

Marks  it  making  love  and  observes  it  dine. 

With  wise  discrimination  he  can  trace 

The  difFerenee  'twixt  the  louse  and  bedbug  race  — 

But  I'll  cease  scratching  lines  and  scratch  "Scotch-fiddle" 

tunes, 
At  something  crawling  in  my  pantaloons. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  W. 


Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  Va.,  September  26th,  1863 
To  His  Excellency,  AUGUSTUS  W.  BRADFORD, 

Governor  of  Maryland, 

Sir :  We,  the  undersigned  officers  of  your  state,  now 
suffering  the  privations  of  prison  life,  though  conscious  that 
we  are  not  forgotten  by  you,  would  nevertheless  urge  upon 
your  consideration  the  importance  of  making  a  personal 
effort  for  our  release,  should  such  effort  be  found  practi 
cable.  Our  imprisonment  has  become  almost  intolerable. 
Deprived  as  we  have  been,  so  long,  of  the  sweet  sunshine 
and  pure  air,  also  of  our  accustomed  diet  when  free,  we 
have  gradually  sunken  under  the  debilitating  influence. 

Scrofulous  and  dropsical  diseases  have  already  manifested 
their  alarming  symptons  among  us,  and  will  doubtless  prove 
fatal  in  many  cases,  unless  we  are  soon  released.  Our  fel- 


FIFTH  XEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  349 

low-sufferer,  Major  Morris,  but  recently  fell  a  victim  to  our 
wretched  condition.  Others  will  probably  soon  follow  him. 
Can  anything  be  done  for  us  ?  Our  prayer  is  brief,  but 

earnest. 

We  are,  respected  Sir, 

Your  obedient  servants,  &c. 
(Signed  by  many  officers  of  the  state  of  Maryland). 


WHO  is  RESPONSIBLE  FOR  NON-EXCHANGE  or  PRISONERS? 

BY  LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  N. 

It  is  with  much  regret  that  we  announce  the  fact  to  the 
readers  of  the  Chronicle,  that  there  are  those  among  the 
officers  now  confined  in  this  delectable  (?)  locality,  ycleped 
Libby,  who  are  uttering  curses,  "not  loud,  but  deep," 
against  our  government,  for  permitting  them  to  remain  here 
so  long.  These  officers  evince  more  of  the  spirit  of  spoiled 
children,  than  of  that  manly  courage  and  patience  which 
should  characterize  the  actions  of  the  American  officer  and 
soldier. 

The  officer  who  utters  complaints  against  our  government 
for  his  continued  incarceration,  shows  that  he  does  not  under 
stand  the  principles  involved  in  the  controversy,  in  relation 
to  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  or  else  he  is  prompted  by  mo 
tives  altogether  selfish  and  unpatriotic.  The  exchange  of 
officers  was  suspended  in  consequence  of  the  unfair  proceed 
ings  of  the  Bebel  authorities,  about  the  first  of  June,  in 
retaining  certain  officers  in  an  unjust  and  arbitrary  manner. 
Among  those  thus  retained  were  Colonel  Streight's  officers, 
Captain  McKee,  of  the  Fourteenth  Kentucky  Cavalry,  and 
Lieutenant  Conn,  of  the  Second  Virginia  Cavalry.  Our 


350  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

commissioner,  on  discovering  this  injustice,  respectfully  in 
formed  the  Rebel  commissioner,  that  all  exchange  of  officers 
would  be  suspended,  until  the  Rebels  would  exchange  officer 
for  officer  and  man  for  man,  according  to  rank  and  to  date 
of  capture. 

The  Rebels,  at  that  time,  were  anticipating  a  series  of 
successes,  which  they  have  not  realized,  though  they  persist, 
with  a  dogged  obstinacy,  in  the  unjust  course  which  they 
had  marked  for  themselves.  Instead  of  removing  obstacles 
which  they  had  thrown  in  the  way  of  the  cartel,  they  con 
tinue  to  increase  those  obstacles,  by  high-landed  acts  of 
injustice  and  cruelty,  and  make  the  affair  more  complicated. 
All  that  is  necessary,  is  to  return  to  the  cartel  and  proceed 
as  formerly.  When  the  Rebels  do  this,  our  government  is 
ready  to  exchange,  but  until  then,  it  acts  properly  in  refus 
ing  to  exchange.  A  partial  or  special  exchange  would  leave 
many  an  unfortunate  prisoner,  exposed  to  even  worse  insults 
and  indignities,  than  now.  The  suspension  of  the  cartel 
will  doubtless  continue  until  the  Rebels  are  willing  to  con 
duct  the  exchange  on  fair  principles,  and  every  patriotic 
officer  should  submit  to  his  sad  fate  with  manly  fortitude. 

Our  government  has  not  forgotten  us,  but,  on  the  con 
trary,  it  is  pursuing  that  course  which  will  result  to  our 
advantage.  Should  partial  exchanges  be  made,  a  portion 
of  the  officers  would  be  held  as  hostages,  confined  in  wretched 
cells,  and  reserved  for  hanging  or  shooting,  for  the  amuse 
ment  and  recreation  of  the  chivalry.  Such  exchanges 
would  add  to  the  comfort  of  some,  but  would  increase  the 
sufferings  of  others.  What  officer  is  so  devoid  of  humanity 
as  to  be  willing  to  accept  his  personal  liberty  at  such 
expense?  If  there  be  any  such  in  Libby,  they  had  better 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  351 

tender  their  "immediate  and  unconditional"  resignation,  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  retire  to  their  own  place.  But,  in  the 
language  of  Holy  Writ,  let  us  "endure  hardness  as  good 
soldiers/'  trusting  in  the  God  of  battles  to  deliver  us;  assured 
also  that  we  are  not  forgotten  by  father  Abraham,  who  is 
evidently  doing  all  that  justice  and  mercy  can  prompt  him 
to  do  for  our  relief.  While  it  is  well  for  us  to  invite  the 
aid  of  our  influential  friends  in  the  north,  in  this  matter  of 
exchange,  it  is  equally  proper  to  bide  our  time  with  patience 
and  resignation. 


" SOUTH  WINDOW." 
No  3. 

October,  1st,  1863. 

Amidst  the  excitements  of  "fresh  fish"*  (and  this  is  ever 
a  fishy  place)  and  exchange,  there  has  been  little  time  of 
late  to  write,  and  even  now  your  correspondent  knows  of 
little  that  will  interest  your  hearers.  "Changing,  forever 
changing;  so  runs  on  the  petty  pace  from  day  to  day,"  says 
the  poet,  and  how  has  its  truthfulness  been  proven  during 
the  few  weeks  past.  Victory  and  defeat  have  hovered  o'er 
our  country's  banners,  and  as  we  watch  to  see  the  smoke 
of  battle  roll  away,  we  see  the  red  result  —  a  result  which 
we,  men  of  war,  have  seen  but  too  often. 


1  Whenever  a  company  of  prisoners  was  seen  approaching  Libby, 
the  cry,  "  fresh  fish  !"  "  fresh  fish  !"  was  made  within,  followed  by  a 
rush  to  the  front  windows,  to  get  a  glimpse  of  the  new  comers.  As 
they  generally  had  friends  in  the  prison,  and  were  bearers  of  the 
latest  reliable  news  from  the  army,  on  being  introduced  into  the 
rooms,  they  were  surrounded  by  an  eager  throng,  and  a  shower 
of  questions  was  rained  upon  them.  Those  were  seasons  of  great 
excitement. 


352  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

Vast  armies,  numbered  by  their  tens  of  thousands,  go 
crashing  together;  steel  clashes  against  steel,  fire  responds 
to  fire  ;  the  one  recoils,  and  again  amid  the  whistling  ball 
and  hurtling  shell,  the  scene  is  reenacted,  until  the  one, 
weaker  and  worn  out,  is  hurled  back,  whipped,  defeated, 
routed.  They,  who  were  brave  men  an  hour  before,  on 
losing  hope,  fly  for  safety  under  some  impregnable  fortress. 
Thus,  though,  Mr.  Editor,  has  it  not  been  with  our  valiant 
army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Forced  into  a  battle  without  position,  what  did  our  brave 
llosecrans  ?  With  numbers  small  in  comparison  to  those 
of  his  foe,  we  see  him  day  after  day  stubbornly  fighting. 
At  length  his  lines  are  driven  back,  for  they  cannot  resist 
the  force  that  is  hurled,  confident  in  their  weight  of  num 
bers,  against  them.  Back,  back  they  fall,  and,  in  a  few 
moments  more,  all  will  be  lost;  but  see  !  a  form,  well  known 
and  loved  by  each  of  that  gallant  army,  dashes  forward, 
scarcely  an  hundred  .yards  from  the  advancing  foe;  and 
there,  amid  a  storm  of  bullets,  which  they  who  were  there 
tell  us  they  never  saw  equaled,  right  in  the  jaws  of  death, 
between  the  two  combatants,  their  leader  rides;  his  hat  is 
raised  aloft,  and  he  shouts,  "  Forward  men  !  Will  you  let 
Rebels  drive  you  back  ?  Forward !  Give  li.cm  the  bayonet !" 
And  they  did  ;  the  day  was  saved. 

Night  came  on  apace,  and,  so  quietly  that  the  enemy 
knew  it  not,  he  fell  back  to  Chattanooga,  where  Braxton 
Bragg,  with  all  the  appropriateness  of  his  name,  will 
not  attempt  to  attack  him.  Better  far,  and  none  know 
it  better  than  he,  to  be  content  with  what  he  may  call  a 
victory, —  a  victory  indeed  in  one  sense,  but  certainly  a 
very  barren  one. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  353 

AN  OFFICER  AND  A  GENTLEMAN. 

BY  LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  8. 

It  still  runs  in  the  memory  of  many,  when  to  be  an  officer 
of  the  American  army,  was  to  be  as  a  consequence,  a  gen 
tleman  and  a  man  of  honor.  The  claimant  to  official  rank, 
of  whatever  grade,  was  ever  the  recipient  of  marked  atten 
tion.  The  announcement  of  his  arrival  was  paraded  in  the 
journals  of  the  day,  and  the  blandest  smiles  of  mine  host, 
and  the  cosiest  chamber  of  "  mine  inn,"  were  instantly  at 
his  command.  From  the  great,  the  learned,  the  wealthy 
and  the  fair,  hospitalities,  invitations  and  favors  of  every 
kind  were  tendered  him,  and  his  sojourn  in  town  or  coun 
try,  was  a  continuation  of  fete  days,  culminating  in  intensity 
as  his  leave  of  absence  drew  near  its  close. 

"All  men  revered  him,  all  women  loved." 

To  impugn  his  character,  or  to  doubt  his  honor,  subjected 
the  utterer  to  the  closest  investigation,  or  to  the  stern  ar 
bitrament  of  arms,  while,  to  him,  to  fall  from  his  high 
position,  was  a  descent  second  only  to  that  of  Lucifer.  In 
camp,  courteous  to  his  subordinates,  he  was  ever  respectful 
to  his  superiors;  and  in  the  field,  he  faced  the  foe,  because 
the  path  to  glory  is  through  the  field  of  danger. 

For  his  associates,  with  whom  he  had  encountered  many 
vicissitudes  "  through  field  and  flood/'  he  entertained  an 
affection  dearer  than  the  ties  of  relationship ;  and  was  ever 
ready  to  aid,  support  and  defend  them  at  all  hazards.  Such 
were  the  life,  character  and  attributes  of  an  American  officer 
at  the  commencement  of  this  contest;  and  whether  enrolled 
in  defense  of  constitutional  right  and  a  just  government, 
or  engaged  in  marshalling  the  ranks  of  the  disloyal  and  the 


354  HISTORIC   RECORDS. 

traitor,  to  this  day  lie  retains,  in  an  eminent  degree,  most,  if 
not  all,  of  these  virtues. 

Let  us  now  turn  to  the  volunteer.  Called  to  arms  by  his 
country's  need,  the  gifted,  the  honored,  the  brave,  throwing 
off  the  lethargy  of  peace,  donned  the  uniform  of  his  govern 
ment,  and,  pledging  his  life  and  his  sacred  honor,  rushed  to 
the  defense  of  a  time-honored  flag,  and  the  beloved  institu 
tions  of  his  forefathers.  A  hearty  volunteer  in  a  glorious 
cause,  he  brought  with  him  the  enthusiasm  of  the  patriot, 
and  the  loyalty  of  the  citizen;  accustomed  to  comfort  and 
nurtured  in  luxury,  he  endured  the  privations  of  the  camp 
and  the  bitter  experiences  of  martial  life,  with  cheerfulness 
and  obedience ;  proud  of  his  cause,  his  country  and  his  uni 
form,  he  strove  so  to  guide  his  steps,  that  each  and  all 
might  be  honored  by  his  advocacy.  Acquainted  with  the 
amenities  of  civil  life }  filled  with  the  recollections  of  the 
social  distinctions  accorded  to  the  officer  of  former  days, 
and  a  firm  believer  in  the  attributes  of  the  chivalric  soldier, 
he  naturally  turned  to  his  immediate  associates  in  arms,  for 
an  exhibition  of  those  characteristics,  which  have  garnished 
the  pages  of  history  and  peopled  the  world  with  heroes. 

The  child  which  nightly  awakens  the  denizens  of  Libby 
by  its  eager  search  after  the  paternal  Teet;1  to  whom  the 
knowledge  of  light,  air,  and  impalpable  being,  is  but  a  thing 
of  yesterday,  is  yet  old  enough  to  chronicle  the  downfall  of 
these  expectations ;  and  could  he  answer,  young  as  he  is, 
his  youthful  visage  would  rival,  in  intensity  of  color,  his 
spanked  extremity,  after  a  severe  flagellation  by  his  irate 

1  Captain  John  Teed  could  imitate  the  crying  of  a  little  child  so 
perfectly,  as  to  render  detection  almost  impossible.  Hours  of 
intense  merriment  were  occasioned  by  this  thing  alone. 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  355 

ancestor,  while  recounting  tlie  reverse  of  the  picture.  For, 
did  he  speak  truly,  he  would  tell  of  the  lie  bandied,  in  lieu 
of  the  sacred  word  of  honor  ever  implied ;  of  the  act  and 
gesture  of  filth  and  indecency,  in  place  of  the  manly  joke 
and  good  humored  repartee;  of  the  blasphemous  response 
to  the  authorized  command  of  the  superior,  instead  of  the 
graceful  obedience  of  the  subordinate  ;  but,  worse  than  all, 
he  would  tell  of  the  rights  invaded,  the  property  purloined, 
and  the  pocket  rifled  of  one  officer,  by  his  fellow. 

Mr.  Editor,  had  such  a  statement  been  made  in  any 
journal  as  respectable  as  your  own,  previous  to  my  advent 
to  Libby,  I  would  have  deemed  it  my  duty  to  hunt  the 
anonymous  slanderer  from  his  secret  lair,  and  nail  the  cal 
umny  to  his  forehead ;  but  now,  alas,  a  short  but  painful 
experience  in  a  military  prison,  has  revealed  to  me,  that  an 
officer  and  a  gentleman  are  no  longer  synonyms ;  that  the 
uniform  of  the  soldier  may  cover  the  carcase  of  the  sneak, 
and  the  shoulder  straps  of  the  officer  may  serve  to  conceal 
the  brand  of  the  thief.  Dare  any  one  deny  this  ?  If  any 
such  there  be,  let  them  dispassionately  investigate  the  record 
of  the  past  two  weeks,  and,  ere  venting  their  virtuous  indigna 
tion,  inquire  of  the  first  officer  they  meet  of  his  experience; 
or,  better,  let  them  consult  the  official  announcement,  affixed 
to  these  walls,  proclaiming  the  loss,  by  theft,  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  dollars,  within  the  past  fortnight;  or  they  may 
be  enlightened  by  the  recital  of  innumerable  petty  larcenies, 
minor  scoundrelisuis  and  sneaking  pilferings,  unworthy  the 
talents  of  the  meanest  thief  that  ever  graduated  from  the 
Five  Points.  Even  the  honor  which  obtains  among  rogues, 
is  forgotten,  for  we  have  it  on  record,  that  thief  has  robbed 
thief,  and  the  sneak  preyed  upon  his  brother.  And  yet, 


356  HISTORIC  KECORDS. 

forsooth,  these  miscreants  bear  a  commission,  liold  a  com 
mand,  and,  by  my  manhood,  even  sport  a  sword.  Of  such 
men  the  immortal  Shakespeare  has  written  thus  : 

"He  will  steal,  sir,  an  egg  out  of  a  cloister.  He  pro 
fesses  not  keeping  of  oaths ;  in  breaking  them  he  is  stronger 
than  Hercules.  He  will  lie,  sir,  with  such  volubility,  that 
you  would  think  truth  were  a  fool.  Drunkenness  is  his 
best  virtue,  for  he  will  be  swine-drunk,  and  in  his  sleep  he 
does  little  harm,  save  to  his  bed  clothes  about  him ;  but 
they  know  his  conditions  and  lay  him  in  straw.  I  have 
but  little  more  to  say,  sir,  of  his  honesty  j  he  has  every 
thing  that  an  honest  man  should  not  have,  what  an  honest 
man  should  have,  he  has  nothing." 

I  would  not  have  it  understood,  Mr.  Editor,  that  a  ma 
jority,  or  even  a  tenth  of  our  number,  are  open  to  these 
charges.  The  bad  among  us  arc,  I  am  proud  to  say,  nu 
merically  small,  but  that  they  are  skillful  and  proficient 
their  present  concealment  evidences.  Brought  from  the 
various  armies  of  the  north  and  west,  we  are,  in  a  degree, 
total  strangers  10  a  large  number  of  the  present  inmates  of 
this  prison.  The  very  man  who  shares  our  plank,  is  un 
known  to  us,  by  name  or  state,  and  may  be,  for  all  we 
know,  the  mirror  of  knighthood,  or  the  veriest  poltroon. 

A  sufferer  by  the  peculations  complained  of,  we  turn  in 
querulous  haste,  with  jealous  eye,  upon  the  first  comer,  and 
are  more  likely  to  suspect  the  innocent,  than  to  detect  the 
guilty;  and  we  ourselves,  while  seeking  our  despoiler,  are 
in  turn  suscected  by  a  fellow-sufferer,  who  deems  the  eager 
looks  of  the  loser,  the  preying  scrutiny  cf  the  thief.  For 
our  own  sakes,  then,  let  us  combine  to  purge  our  body  of 
this  moral  blot,  to  rid  our  profession  of  this  novel  stain 


FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY.  357 

To  one  or  the  other,  the  condition  and  opinion  of  each  and 
every  man  are  known.  The  knave  and  the  coward,  under 
a  close  surveillance,  must  inevitably  be  discovered,  while 
the  brave  and  the  honorable  can  rarely  be  misunderstood. 
Mark  then  every  man,  by  his  words  and  actions.  Scan 
closely  the  unguarded  movements  and  desultory  remarks 
of  the  suspected.  Meet  cunning  with  stratagem,  and  ply 
the  rogue  to  his  ruin.  The  cause  we  advocate  and  the 
uniform  we  wear,  demand  that  we  should  expose  the  un 
worthy  and  unmask  the  dishonest;  and  it  is  the  duty  of 
every  honest  man,  to  bring  the  recreant  thief  to  that  justice 
he  so  much  needs  and  fears. 


Written  expressly  for  the  Chronicle). 

THE  IRRUPTION.* 

BY  LIEUTENANT  N. 

'Twas  nighr,  and  Rebel  Libby,  wrapped  in  sleep, 
Was  hushed  to  quiet,  weird,  sublime  and  deep: 
Along  the  floor  the  moon's  pale,  flickering  beam, 
Athwart  each  visage,  shot  with  fitful  gleam, 
As  if  in  pity  she  did  stoop  to  bless, 
And  cheer  each  prisoner  with  a  fond  caress. 

And  what  a  sight  that  moon-lit  floor  displays ! 
In  each  pale  face,  upturned  to  meet  her  rays, 
She  shines  resplendent,  and  paints  in  colors  bright 
A  cheerful  soul  within,  content  and  light ; 
Yet  through  its  workings,  now  in  fit  and  start, 
Unfolds  the  sorrows  of  an  anguished  heart. 


*  This  poem  was  written  soon  after  the  arrival  of  our  officers,  captured  at 
Chickflniauga. 


358  HISTORIC  RECORDS. 

From  scene  like  this  we  turn  our  weary  Lead, 
To  court  unwilling  Sleep  to  bless  our  bed  ; 
When,  hark  !  upon  the  stillness  harshly  breaks 
A  sound,  that  to  the  base  old  Libby  shakes ; 
Like  to  the  war  of  billows,  tempest-clad, 
That  beat  old  Ocean's  shore,  in  foment  mad, 

Or  cannon's  thunders  loud,  when  heard  afar, 
In  battle's  dreadful  strife,  "  grim-visaged  war." 
It  nearer,  louder  comes.     "  What  can  it  be  ?  " 
Each  wakened  dreamer  cries,  and  starts  to  see. 
And  what  a  sight  meets  their  astonished  gaze, 
By  light  of  moon  and  candle's  flickering  blaze ! 

The  vandal  Yankees,  in  ."  irruption"  bold, 
In  numbers  seventy  and  one  all  told, 
Are  in  a  horde  dark  Libby's  cells  invading, 
^*    And  'long  its  files  with  stealthy'  tread  are  raiding; 
Their  guide  n  contraband  :  deceitful  black, 
To  thus  direct  the  cunning  Yankees'  track. 

Surprised,  awaked  by  the  in-coming  foe, 
The  inmates  rise  to  strike  a  mortal  blow  : 
Aloft  they  rise  in  majesty  so  grand 
These  dreamers,  this  incarcerated  band ; 
With  mingled  cries  of  joy,  of  fear  and  rage, 
They  quickly  haste  the  coming  fight  to  wage ; 

When,  lo !  above  the  din  cries  out  a  wag: 
;<'Tis  not  the  vandals,  only  Braxton  Bragg, 
Who  comes  to  ree'nforce  the  garrison, 
With  gobbled  troops  of  Teuton  Rosy's  men  " 


- 17 


^ 


74^ 

tfto      P 

C 

_?_ 

7       v7 

<W,f 

.  —  -  * 

/3^0 

It+lO 

i,  ^^TE) 

t  L  3 

fTT~r~t)6 

^^_3j^ 

/¥*  ^  • 

2  trts-v 

/i-ijf 
&ijj~ 

_/_2£^ 

l_2<f/~    " 

7^ 

¥  c>  '  °  ^ 

.  -  y  ^ 

77 


I®*1    rt%& 

i         ,  sv^  , 

»        ^  1>s.  ,i  3^ 


RETURN  TO  the  circulation  desk  of  any 
University  of  California  Library 

or  to  the 

NORTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 
Bldg.  400,  Richmond  Field  Station 
University  of  California 
Richmond,  CA  94804-4698 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

•  2-month  loans  may  be  renewed  by  calling 
(510)642-6753 

•  1-year  loans  may  be  recharged  by  bringing 
books  to  NRLF 

•  Renewals  and  recharges  may  be  made 
4  days  prior  to  due  date 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 

SEMTONILL 

MAR  0  <»   ?nni 
U.  C.  BERKE^cY 


DD20   15M  4-02 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


